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

Zamboanga Peninsula

The inflation rate in Zamboanga Peninsula for the bottom 30% income households decreased to 6.3 percent in May 2024, from 6.9 percent in April 2024. The region’s average inflation from January to May 2024 posted at 5.0 percent. In May 2023, inflation rate posted at 
6.5 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

The decrement in the region’s inflation for this income group in May 2024 was primarily influenced by the lower increase in the indices of Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages at                   8.1 percent from 9.7 percent in the previous month, and Clothing and footwear at 1.5 percent from 2.0 percent in the previous month.

The following commodity groups posted higher annual increments as compared with their previous month’s inflation rates:

1)    Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 9.1 percent from 8.8 percent;
2)    Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 1.1 percent from (0.5) percent;
3)    Restaurants and Accommodation Services, 5.3 percent from 4.7 percent;
4)    Health, 3.1 percent from 2.8 percent; 
5)    Transport, 4.2 percent from 2.7 percent; and
6)    Recreation, sport and culture, 8.9 percent from 8.7 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups registered lower inflation rates during the month:

Meanwhile, monthly inflation retained in the indices of the following commodity groups:

1)    Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 5.3 percent.
2)    Education services, 7.1 percent;
3)    Financial services, (0.2) percent;
4)    Information and Communication, 0.3 percent; and
5)    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.6 percent.

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

Inflation Rate by Commodity Group for the Bottom 30% Income Households in
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA 2018=100

Likewise, food inflation for the bottom 30% Income Households in Zamboanga Peninsula decelerated to 8.5 percent in May 2024 from 10.2 percent in April 2024. In May 2023, food inflation was lower at 6.8 percent.

The decrease in the food inflation was mainly due to the lower increase in the indices of Cereal and cereal products (ND) at 19.7 percent from 21.7 percent in the previous month, and Corn at 20.0 percent from 20.2 percent in the previous month.

In addition, the following food groups recorded to have slower increments during the month:

1)    Rice, 23.9 percent from 27.4 percent;
2)    Cereals (ND), 22.6 percent from 25.0 percent; 
3)    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals,                         4.1 percent from 4.4 percent;
4)    Fish and other seafood (ND), (3.2) percent from 1.6 percent;    
5)    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 2.1 percent from 5.4 percent;    
6)    Oils and fats (ND), (5.2) percent from (4.2) percent.

In contrast, higher increments were observed in the indices of the following food groups during the month:

1)    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), (1.1) percent from (1.5) percent;
2)    Fruits and nuts, 13.7 percent from 13.3 percent;
3)    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 2.4 percent from                      0.5 percent; 
4)    Sugar, confectionery and desserts, (5.4) percent from (8.1) percent; and
5)    Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c (ND), 10.2 percent from 8.3 percent.

Among the provinces in the region, Zamboanga Sibugay had the highest inflation for the bottom 30% income households with 7.5 percent inflation rate, followed by Zamboanga del Sur at                7.3 percent, City of Zamboanga and City of Isabela who had the same inflation at 5.6 percent.  Meanwhile, Zamboanga del Norte recorded the lowest inflation rate at 4.8 percent.

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/ajdc