Nationally, the General Wholesale Price Index (GWPI) recorded a significant increase in March 2025, rising to 3. 6% year- on- year, up from 2.9% in February 2025. This figure exceeds the 2.5% recorded in March 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The primary driver of this acceleration was a notable jump in the annual growth rate of chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats, which increased to 12. 4% in March from 10. 1% in February.
Several other commodity groups also experienced higher annual growth rates in March:
- Food: 2 9% (up from 2 3%)
- Beverages and Tobacco: 3. 4% (up from 2 9%)
- Crude Materials, Inedible Except Fuels: 77. 9% (up from 60 6%)
- Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Materials: 1. 3% (up from 0 9%)
Miscellaneous manufactured articles showed a positive shift, recording a 0% annual rate in March after a 0.1% decrease in February.
Conversely, annual growth slowed for machinery and transport equipment to 1.3% in March from 1.6% in February, while the annual decline in mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials accelerated to 1.9% in March from 0.3% in February.
Regional Performance:
Luzon: The GWPI in Luzon mirrored the national trend, increasing its annual growth rate to 3.9% in March 2025 (up from 3.2% in February 2025 and 2.3% in March 2024). The key driver was a higher annual increase in chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats (13.6% in March versus 11.1% in February). Similar to the national level, most other commodity groups in Luzon also saw increased annual growth rates.
Visayas: The annual growth rate of the GWPI in Visayas slowed to 0.8% in March 2025 (down from 1% in February 2025 and a significantly higher 6% in March 2024). This deceleration was mainly due to slower growth in food and chemicals, as well as a faster decline in mineral fuels.
Mindanao: The annual growth rate of the GWPI in Mindanao edged up to 0.8% in March 2025 (up from 0.7% in February 2025 and 1.9% in March 2024). This increase was primarily driven by faster growth in beverages and tobacco, and chemicals.
