Headline inflation in Zamboanga del Norte dropped to 7.8 percent after five months of continuous acceleration. The province’s average inflation from January to August stood at 6.6 percent. Meanwhile, in August 2021, inflation rate was posted at 3.1 percent (Figure 1)

The slowdown in inflation in August 2022 was primarily due to the lower annual increment recorded in the index for transport at 17.1 percent from 25.9 percent from previous month. This was followed by housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels which declined by 5.6 percent from 6.2 percent in July 2022.

Conversely, restaurants and other accommodation services sparked the highest annual increment at 8.2 percent from 4.1 percent from previous month. 

Inflation rates of other commodity groups were higher during the month;

1. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 8.9 percent,

2. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 7.0 percent,

3. Clothing and footwear, 1.7 percent,

4. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.4 percent, and

5. Health, 1.3 percent

Table A. Year-on-Year Provincial Inflation Rates in Percent by Commodity Group, July and August 2022, Zamboanga del Norte (2018=100)