April inflation lowest since November 2019

Metro Manila, Philippines - The country’s inflation rate slowed further to 1.4 percent in April as price pressures from food and transport eased, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

The inflation print was the lowest since the 1.2 percent in November 2019, according to PSA data released on Tuesday, April 6.

The number pushed the average rate of price increases to 2 percent, which was the lower band of the government’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa noted the “big contribution” of easing rice prices in last month’s inflation rate. Rice inflation has contracted since the beginning of this year, registering a -10.9 percent in April.

“Itong April 2025 rice inflation… malaking contribution sa pagbaba ng presyo ng overall bilihin at serbisyo ng bansa,” Mapa told a news briefing.

[Translation: The April 2025 rice inflation has a big contribution to the drop of prices in overall commodities and services in the country.]

Mapa said regular-milled rice has a national average price of P44.45 per kilogram, well milled rice at P50.54, and special rice at P60.69.

On the other hand, pork prices wewre the top contributor in the headline figure with the African Swine Fever still hurting supply.

Mapa said PSA data showed national average price of monitored pork products with “substantial” month-on-month hikes. In April, fresh pork kasim was at P364.79 per kilogram, fresh pork liempo at P381.02, and fresh pork meat with bones at P326.65.

The Department of Agriculture has implemented a maximum suggested retail price for pork in a bid to lower costs, but it has seen a low compliance rate.

Also among the major contributors were costs for restaurants and related businesses, electricity, rentals, and poultry meat.

“Itong dalawang particular items na ito (pork and poultry meat)... sila ‘yong posibleng mag-contribute doon sa upward swing naman ng inflation rate,” Mapa said of his inflation outlook in the coming months.

[Translation: Pork and poultry meat may have possible contributions to the upward swing in the inflation rate.]

Higher consumption for power and water supply came also with the sweltering heat, with Mapa saying the “housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” subgroup a “trigger” for April’s inflation.

“Isa [ito] sa mga importanteng component na nagpataas ng presyo o inflation ng [The subgroup was among the important component that drove rising costs or inflation in the] National Capital Region,” the PSA chief said of the subgroup. “We are tracking this for the month of May.”

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development said the government “must continue to push for decisive coordination to ensure price stability, especially for essential commodities.”