Ilocos Region

The inflation rate of the Ilocos Region decelerated from 6.7 percent in March 2023 to 5.9 percent in April 2023, a decrease of 0.8 percentage point. Meanwhile, it is higher by 0.7 percentage point from the recorded rate of 5.2 percent in April 2022. (Table A) 

The decreased inflation in Ilocos Region in April 2023 was primarily influenced by the considerable decrease in inflation of transport at -1.9 from 1.5 percent in March 2023; food and non-alcoholic beverages at 8.2 percent from 9.6 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 8.9 percent from 9.0 percent; information and communication at 0.9 percent from 1.0 percent; recreation, sport and culture at 4.2 percent from 4.4 percent; restaurant and accommodation services at 4.8 percent from 5.0 percent; and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 6.9 percent from 7.3 percent in March 2023. (Table B)

Meanwhile, higher annual increments in the indices of the following commodity groups as compared to their previous month’s inflation rates were observed:

a.   Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 10.0 percent;

b.   Clothing and footwear; 6.2 percent;

c.   Health, 6.2 percent; and

d.   Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 5.7 percent.

The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates or had zero percent annual growths. 

As shown in Table C, the food index of Ilocos Region decreased at 8.3 percent in April 2023, from the 9.9 percent in the previous month.  
In April 2022, the food index was posted at 3.2 percent. Furthermore,  
the following food groups exhibited lower annual increments during  
the current month:

a.            Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 10.3 percent;

b.            Oils and fats, 14.3 percent;

c.            Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 16.4 percent;

d.            Sugar, confectionery and desserts, 39.9 percent;

e.            Corn, -9.8 percent;

f.              Fish and other seafood, 11.9 percent;

g.            Cereals and cereal products, 4.5 percent;

h.            Rice, 2.8 percent; and

i.              Ready-made food and other food products N.E.C., 6.6 percent

The rest of the indices exhibited increases on their previous month’s inflation rates or had zero percent annual growths.

Provinces 

Among the provinces, Pangasinan posted the highest inflation rate at 6.9 percent in April 2023 followed by Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte at 5.9 percent, and 4.4 percent, respectively. The lowest inflation rate was registered in La Union at 3.7 percent.

Compared to their respective levels in April 2022, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union exhibited decreased inflation rates by 2.7 percentage points, 2.1 percentage points, and 0.7 percentage point, respectively. On the other hand, the province of Pangasinan exhibited increase in their inflation rate by 2.6 percentage points.

Note:

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