THE inflation rate in Northern Mindanao declined from 2.9% in January to 1.8% in February 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirmed Friday, March 14.

PSA Regional Director Dr. Janeth Aves attributed the decrease mainly to lower inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages, which dropped from 2.9% in January to 1.8% in February.

Key contributors included cereals and cereal products, fish, seafood, fruits, vegetables, tubers, and ready-made food items.

Rice inflation saw a significant decline, falling to -4.4% in February from 1.2% in January.

Corn inflation, however, remained on the rise but slowed to 4.2% from 6.2% the previous month.

LOWER INFLATION. Northern Mindanao’s inflation rate dropped from 2.9% in January 2025 to 1.8% in February 2025, according to Dr. Janeth Aves, Regional Director of the Philippine Statistics Authority. The decline is attributed to slower price increases in essential goods, particularly cereal and non-cereal products, including rice. Photo by Shiela Mae Butlig

Aves clarified that a lower inflation rate does not necessarily mean prices have dropped but rather that price increases have slowed.

"Kung mag-ubos ang inflation, dili pasabot nga nag-ubos ang presyo. Kung nag-ubos ang inflation pero positive ang figure, meaning naghinay lang ang pagsaka sa mga presyo," she explained.

She also pointed to government initiatives such as Kadiwa stores and efforts by rice importers to sell at lower prices as factors helping to ease inflation.

"Isa na sa tan-awon sa atong mga katawhan nga naay mga Kadiwa Stores. So, kung nag-ubos ang mga presyo, dapat isa na siya nga ma-feel sa atong katawhan nga nag-ubos na atong inflation," Aves added.