The surge in the province's inflation rate was mainly brought about by the highest annual increase in the index for transport at 20.4 percent (see Table C). Also contributing to the uptrend in the overall inflation rate of the province during the month were:

a.         Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 7.1 percent;

b.         Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 6.1 percent;

c.         Furnishings and Household Maintenance, 5.3 percent; and

d.         Personal Care, Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 4.4 percent.

Meanwhile, the inflation rate of Pangasinan in May 2022 was also brought about by the decline in the indices of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and other Fuels at 8.1 percent and of Information and Communication at 1.2 percent.

The following commodity groups either retained their previous month's inflation or had zero percent annual growths:

a.    Recreation and Sports, 4.7 percent;

b.    Clothing and Footwear, 3.6 percent;

c.     Health, 3.5 percent;

d.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services, 0.8 percent;

e.    Education Services, 0.0 percent; and

f.      Financial Services, 0.0 percent.

Specifically, the transport index in June 2022 was reported at 20.4 percent, which was 1.9 percent higher from 18.5 percent in May. Inflation rate in transport commodity group was lower at 15.5 percent in June 2021 (see Table D).

The transport commodity group rose up further due to increased inflation rates in diesel, gasoline, and domestic air fare at 90.7, 56.0, and 9.2 percent, respectively, in June 2022. Meanwhile, inflation rate on bicycle declined to 4.5 percent in June 2022 from 6.6 percent in May. The rest of the items of transport commodity retained their previous month's inflation rates.

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

SGD. EDGARD M. NORBERTE

Chier Statistical Specialist, PSA Pangasinan