Guimaras food inflation stays negative in March

Food inflation in Guimaras edged up in March 2026 but remained in negative territory, driven mainly by rising prices of cereals and cereal products, particularly rice, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

For all income households, food inflation stood at -2.5 percent in March 2026, slower than -3.6 percent in February 2026.

For the bottom 30 percent income households, food inflation rose to -3.7 percent from -4.8 percent in the previous month.

The PSA said cereals and cereal products were the dominant contributor to food inflation in both income groups, accounting for the largest share of the trend and contribution to inflation during the month.

“Cereals and cereal products, particularly rice, remained the main driver of food inflation across income groups, as its upward movement largely influenced the overall trend during the month,” Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said.

For all income households, cereals and cereal products accounted for 61.6 percent of the food inflation trend and posted the largest contribution to inflation at 137.6 percent.

Within that group, rice remained the key contributor, with a 58.8 percent share to trend and a 156.2 percent contribution to food inflation.

Rice recorded an inflation rate of -15.7 percent in March 2026, compared with -19.6 percent in February 2026, reflecting an upward movement.

Fruits and nuts followed, with an inflation rate of -2.2 percent from -9.1 percent and a 15.1 percent share in the trend.

Fish and other seafood posted 6.1 percent from 5.2 percent and accounted for 9.8 percent of the uptrend.

In contrast, lower food inflation for all income households in March 2026 compared with the previous month was recorded in meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, at -11.5 percent from -6.4 percent.

Milk, other dairy products, and eggs also eased to -0.9 percent from 0.0 percent.

Oils and fats likewise slowed to -0.3 percent from 0.4 percent.

Other commodities that influenced the uptrend in food inflation for all income households included vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses, which rose to 15.9 percent from 13.5 percent.

Ready-made food and other food products increased to 1.5 percent from -0.8 percent.

Sugar, confectionery, and desserts also moved up to 0.2 percent from -0.8 percent.

The PSA data also showed that meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, along with fruits and nuts, posted a significant bearing on the overall inflation rate for all income households in Guimaras at 70.1 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.

For the bottom 30 percent income households, cereals and cereal products contributed 81.6 percent to the food inflation trend and recorded the highest contribution to inflation.

Within this income group, rice was the primary driver, posting a 78.9 percent share to trend and contributing 142.9 percent to overall food inflation.

Rice registered an inflation rate of -16.1 percent in March 2026, higher than -20.1 percent in February 2026, indicating an upward movement.

Fruits and nuts followed with an 11.9 percent share.

Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses came next with a 4.9 percent share.

Other food groups that posted higher inflation rates included sugar, confectionery, and desserts, which rose to 0.1 percent from -0.8 percent.

Ready-made food and other food products increased to 3.7 percent from 3.2 percent.

Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals also rose to 7.4 percent from 7.1 percent.

In contrast, easing food inflation for low-income households in March 2026 compared with the previous month was observed in meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, fish and other seafood, and milk, other dairy products, and eggs.

Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals were listed at 12.4 percent from -7.1 percent, while fish and other seafood eased to 5.0 percent from 5.6 percent.

Milk, other dairy products, and eggs declined to -0.9 percent from -0.2 percent.

Oils and fats retained their previous month’s rate at 1.7 percent.

“Despite the monthly increment, food inflation in Guimaras remained negative, indicating that food prices were still generally lower compared to the same month of the previous year,” Losare said.

“However, cereals and cereal products—particularly rice—continue to be the most influential component of the food basket, driving both the trend and overall contribution to food inflation in the province,” Losare added.

Negative food inflation means food prices, on average, were still lower than they were a year earlier, even as some commodity groups posted month-to-month increases in their inflation rates.

The March data showed that rice continued to carry the biggest weight in Guimaras’ food inflation pattern, underscoring its importance in household spending across income groups.