Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates, 
for the Bottom 30% Income Household, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)
 

A.    Zamboanga City

1.    Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households

The inflation rate for the bottom 30% income bracket decelerated to 3.2 percent in November 2024 from 4.2 percent in October 2024. This was lower than the 4.7 percent inflation recorded in November 2023. Additionally, the city’s average inflation from January to November 2024 was 4.9 percent. (Refer to Table A and Figure 1)

1.1    Main Drivers to the Downtrend of the Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households
The decrease in inflation rate in November 2024 for the bottom 30% income households in Zamboanga City was mainly driven by the slower annual increment in the index of Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages, which decelerated to 1.8 percent from 2.8 percent in the previous month. Furthermore, the decrease in prices within the categories of Transport at (0.9) percent from 3.4 percent, and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels index, which posted  9.8 percent inflation from 10.1 percent also contributed to the downtrend in the inflation rate in November 2024.
There was also a notable decrease in the annual growth rate of the Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance category with 6.5 percent from 6.6 percent inflation in the previous month.

In comparison, an increase in prices were observed in the following indices:
a.    Health, with 5.1 percent from 4.9 percent inflation in the previous month;
b.    Recreation, Sport and Culture at 5.9 percent from 5.0 percent; and,
c.    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent

Meanwhile, the annual growth rates of the following commodity groups were consistent with those recorded in the previous month:
a.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco with 4.5 percent inflation;
b.    Clothing and Footwear at 1.4 percent;
c.    Education Services, 6.1 percent;
d.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services, 3.8 percent;
e.    Financial Services, 0.0 percent; and,
f.    Information and Communication, 0.1 percent inflation.

1.2    Main Contributors to the Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households
The top three (3) commodity groups contributing to the November 2024 inflation rate for the bottom 30% were the following:
a)    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, contributing 50.6 percent share or 1.6 percentage points;
b)    Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages with 32.3 percent share or 1.0 percentage points;
c)    Restaurants and Accommodation Services, contributing 5.5 percent share or  0.2 percentage point.

Table B. Year-on-year Inflation Rates for the Bottom 30% Income Households 
in Zamboanga City, All items in Percent
January 2020- November 2024
(2018=100)

Table C. Inflation Rate by Commodity Group for the Bottom 30% Income Households in
ZAMBOANGA CITY 2018=100
 

2.    Food Inflation

The monthly Food inflation for the bottom 30% Income Households in Zamboanga City decelerated to 2.0 percent in November 2024 from 3.0 percent in October 2024. However, this was comparatively lower than the recorded Food inflation in November 2023, which stood at 9.3 percent.

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downtrend of Food Inflation

The deceleration of Food inflation in November 2024 was primarily driven by slower annual growth rate in Cereals and cereal products (ND) index, which posted (0.8) percent from 2.6 percent in the previous month. Moreover, the decrease in prices within the categories of Fish and other seafood (ND), and Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND), also contributed to the downtrend which stood at 1.4 percent from 4.1 percent, and 5.0 percent from 8.4 percent, respectively.
Lower increment was also observed in the food index of Fruits and nuts (ND), which posted 30.9 percent from 32.2 percent inflation the previous month.

On the contrary, an increase in prices were recorded in the following food commodities:
a.    Oils and fats (ND), with 0.0 percent from (0.1) percent;
b.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND) at 3.0 percent from (7.4) percent;
c.    Sugar, confectionery and desserts (ND), 0.1 percent from (1.5) percent; and,
d.    Ready-made food and other products n.e.c. (ND), 5.0 percent from 3.1 percent inflation in October 2024.

Meanwhile, the annual rates for the food index of Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND) retained at 2.8 percent inflation in November 2024.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 31.8 percent share or 1.0 percentage points to the overall inflation for the Bottom 30% Income Households in Zamboanga City. Moreover, the top three (3) Food groups contributing to the November 2024 food inflation were the following:

a)    Fruits and nuts (ND), contributing 39.4 percent share or 1.2 percentage points;
b)    Fish and other seafood (ND) with 15.3 percent share or 0.4 percentage point; and,
c)    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), contributing 14.4 percent share or 0.4 percentage point.
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Note: CPIs and inflation rates for the bottom 30% income households by region and by province and selected city are posted at the PSA website (http://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

MEWCHUN WS. PAMARAN
Regional Director

MFET/MGCN/kxbl