Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for Zamboanga Peninsula and Zamboanga City, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)

A.    Zamboanga City

a.    Overall Inflation Rate
Headline inflation in Zamboanga City increased to 4.1 percent in December 2024 from 3.8 percent in November 2024. In December 2023, the inflation rate was comparatively lower at 3.0 percent.

1.1    Main Drivers Behind the Uptrend of the Overall Inflation Rate in Zamboanga City
The main drivers on the uptrend of the overall inflation in December 2024 was primarily driven by the faster annual increment of the commodity group, Transport, which stood at (0.2) percent from (3.1) percent inflation in November 2024. In addition, the increase in prices in the categories of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 10.2 percent from 9.8 percent and Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 4.8 percent from                           3.8 percent also contributed to the inflationary trend of the overall inflation rate in Zamboanga City.
In addition, higher annual increments were also observed in the following commodity groups:
a.    Clothing and Footwear, 2.0 percent from 1.7 percent;
b.    Health, 5.4 percent from 5.1 percent;
c.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 2.4 percent from 2.1 percent;
d.    Recreation, Sport, and Culture, 4.8 percent from 3.9 percent inflation;
e.    Personal Care, Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent

On the contrary, the following commodity groups registered lower inflation rates
a.    Food and Non Alcoholic Beverages, 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent
b.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 4.5 percent from 4.6 percent

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates:
a.    Information and Communication, 1.1 percent;
b.    Education Services, 5.8 percent;
c.    Financial Services, 0.0 percent;

1.2    Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation Rate 
The top three (3) commodity groups contributing to the overall inflation rate in Zamboanga City were the following:
a.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, contributing 51.7 percent share or 2.1 percentage points;
b.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages contributing 26.3 percent share or 1.1 percentage points; and,
c.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services 7.4 percent share or 0.3 percentage point

Table B. Year-on- Year Inflation Rates in Zamboanga City, All Items, In percent
January 2020 – December 2024 
(2018=100)
 

Table C. Year-On-Year Inflation Rates by Commodity Groups in Zamboanga City for all Income Households, 2018=100

Food Inflation

Food inflation in Zamboanga City for December 2024 decreased to 2.6 percent from  2.7 percent in November 2024. On the other hand, the food inflation in December 2023 was higher at 7.6 percent.

1.1    The Main Drivers Behind the Downtrend of the Food Inflation
The main drivers in the downtrend of food inflation in December 2024 was brought by the slower annual growth rate of the food index of Cereals and cereal products (ND), which recorded (1.0) percent from 0.2 percent inflation during the previous month. In addition, the decrease in prices of the food indices of Milk, and other dairy products and eggs (ND) at 3.1 percent from 4.9 percent inflation and Ready-made food and other products, n.e.c. (ND) at 2.0 percent from 3.1 percent also contributed to the lower food inflation. 
On the contrary, higher year-on-year growth rates were observed in the following food commodities:
a.    Corn, 1.0 percent from (1.3) percent;
b.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), 3.7 percent from 2.8 percent 
c.    Oils and fats (ND), 0.7 percent from (0.2) percent:
d.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND), 3.0 percent from 2.6 percent;
e.    Sugar, confectionery and desserts (ND), 0.2 percent from (0.4) percent;
f.    Fruits and nuts, 32.3 percent from 30.1 percent:
g. Fish and other seafood, 2.3 percent from 2.0 percent:
h. Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals, 5.5 percent from 5.4 percent

1.2    Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation shared 29.6 percent or 1.1 percentage points to the overall inflation in December 2024. The top three (3) food groups that contributed to the acceleration of the food inflation during the month were the following: 
a.    Fruits and nuts (ND) with a share of 48.5 percent or 1.3 percentage points;
b.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), contributing 21.8 percent share or 0.6 percentage point; and,
c.    Fish and other seafood (ND), with 20.2 percent share or 0.5 percentage point
Note: CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are posted at the PSA website

(http://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

MEWCHUN WS. PAMARAN
Regional Director

MFET/MGCN/kxbl