Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates, All Items
In percent
(2018=100)

Figure 1. Headline Inflation Rates in Benguet, All Items
(2018=100)

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation in Benguet, By Commodity Groups
In percent
(2018=100)

Table C. Year-on-Year Food Inflation in Benguet
In percent
(2018=100)

Benguet

Headline Inflation

The headline inflation or overall inflation of the province for the bottom 30% income household increased to 2.0 percent in December 2024 from 1.0 percent in the previous month. In December 2023, the inflation rate was higher at 4.5 percent. (Figure 1, and Tables A and B)

Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of the Headline Inflation

The uptrend in the overall inflation in December 2024 was primarily brought about by the annual increment of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.8 percent from -0.2 percent in the previous month. Also contributing to the uptrend were transport with 0.1 percent from -1.4 percent, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco with 5.3 percent from 3.6 percent.

Higher annual increments were also noted in the index of the following commodity groups during the month:
a.    Health, 3.6 percent from 3.0 percent;
b.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 1.4 percent from 1.0 percent;
c.    Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.5 percent from 1.0 percent; and
d.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent.
On the contrary, the indices of the following exhibited a lower annual increase during the month:
a.    Clothing and footwear, 0.5 percent from 0.8 percent;
b.    Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 3.7 percent from 4.2 percent; and
c.    Recreation, sport and culture, 1.3 percent from 1.4.

The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s annual rates.

Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The top three commodity groups contributing to the December 2024 overall inflation were the following:
a.    Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; 
b.    Food and non-alcoholic beverages; and
c.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

Food Inflation

Food inflation at the provincial level for the bottom 30% income household increased to 1.7 percent in December 2024 from -0.4 percent in the previous month. In December 2023, food inflation was higher at 3.6 percent. (Table C)

Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of Food Inflation

The acceleration of food inflation in December 2024 was primarily brought about by vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with -3.1 percent from -15.3 percent in the previous month. This was followed by cereals and cereal products with 5.2 percent and fruits and nuts  with  -4.9 percent. 
In contrast, the following commodity groups registered lower inflation rates during the month:
a.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 0.8 percent from 1.0 percent; 
b.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 1.7 percent from 1.9 percent; 
c.    Oils and fats, -2.2 percent from -2.0 percent; and
d.    Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified, 0.6 percent from 1.0.

Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

The top three food groups in terms of contribution to the food inflation during the month were the following:
a.    Cereals and cereal products;
b.    Fish and other seafood; and
c.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals.

Note: CPIs and inflation rates by region, province and selected city are posted at the PSA website (https://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

IMELDA L. BUYUCCAN (SGD)
Chief Statistical Specialist

/DJPN