PANGASINAN

1.    Headline Inflation 

Inflation rate in the Philippines increased to 2.3 percent in October 2024 from 1.9 percent in September. The inflation rate of the country in October 2023 was posted at 4.9 percent, while the average inflation in the country for 2024 was recorded at 3.3 percent (Table A and Figure 1).

Similarly, the inflation rate in the Ilocos Region soared to 1.9 percent in October 2024, from 0.6 percent in September. Inflation rate of the region in October 2023 was posted at 3.7 percent. The average inflation in the region for 2024 was 2.1 percent.

Headline inflation rate in Pangasinan escalated to 1.6 percent in October 2024 from 0.8 percent in September. The inflation rate in the province in October 2023 was posted at 5.0 percent. Average inflation in the province for 2024 was recorded at 2.2 percent. 

1.1 Main Contributors of the Upward Trend of Headline Inflation

The upward trend was mainly caused by the faster year-on-year increase in the index of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages posted at 2.3 percent from -0.7 percent in September 2024 (Table C). Also contributing to the accelerating inflation rate of the province during the month were:

(a)    Clothing and Footwear, 7.3 percent;
(b)    Personal Care,   and    Miscellaneous    Goods    and    Services,   5.9 percent;
(c)    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 5.6 percent; and
(d)    Transport, -4.7 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups recorded slower inflation rates during the month:

(a)    Recreation, Sport and Culture, 2.9 percent;
(b)    Health, 2.5 percent; 
(c)    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, 0.3 percent; and
(d)    Information    and     Communication   Services, -0.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the inflation rates for the commodity groups of (a) Alcoholic Beverages  and  Tobacco,  (b)  Education  Services, (c)  Restaurants  and Accommodation Services, and (d) Financial Services remained unchanged from the previous month.

2.    Food Inflation

The inflation rate for Food at the provincial level in October 2024 was reported at 2.1 percent from -1.2 percent in September (Table D). Meanwhile, food inflation was recorded at 10.5 percent in October 2023.

2.1 Main Factors of the Upward Trend of Food Inflation

The upward trend of food inflation in October 2024 was primarily influenced  by  the  faster  year-on-year  index  of  Rice  at  5.2  percent  from -0.4 percent in September. Additionally, higher indices were observed in the following food groups during the month:

(a)    Ready-made food and other food products, 11.5 percent;
(b)    Corn, 16.2 percent;
(c)    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 5.9 percent;
(d)    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals, 3.4 percent;
(e)    Milk, other dairy products, eggs, 2.9 percent;
(f)    Fish and other seafood, 1.3 percent; 
(g)    Sugar, confectionery and desserts, -2.1 percent; and
(h)    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, -15.2 percent.

Conversely, the inflation rate for the food group of fruits and nuts dropped to 2.3 percent in October 2024, down from 6.4 percent in September. Meanwhile, oils and fats maintained a steady inflation rate of 0.7 percent from the previous month.

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

EDGAR M. NORBERTE
Chief Statistical Specialist
PSO Pangasinan