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

Ilocos Region

The inflation rate of the Ilocos Region decreased from 5.9 percent in April 2023 to 5.2 percent in May 2023, lower by of 0.7 percentage point. Furthermore, it is lower by 0.5 percentage point from the recorded rate of 5.7 percent in May 2022.

The slower inflation in Ilocos Region in May 2023 was primarily influenced by the considerable decrease in inflation of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 4.2 percent from 5.7 percent in April 2023, transport at -4.9 percent from -1.9 percent, and food and non-alcoholic beverages at 7.7 percent from 8.2 percent. (Table B)

In addition, lower 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 9.3 percent;
b. Health, 5.9 percent;
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 6.8 percent;
d. Recreation, sport and culture, 3.8 percent;
e. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 8.8 percent; and
f. Clothing and footwear, 6.1 percent.

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

Table C. Food Index Inflation Rate, Ilocos Region 
May 2022, April 2023 and May 2023 (2018=100)

As shown in Table C, the food index of Ilocos Region decreased at 7.9 percent in May 2023, from the 8.3 percent in the previous month. In May 2022, the food index was posted at 4.6 percent. Furthermore, the following food groups exhibited lower annual increments during the current month:
a. Fruits and nuts, 8.8 percent;
b. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, 36.4 percent;
c. Oils and fats, 11.5 percent;
d. Vegetables, tubers, cooking bananas and pulses, 8.0 percent;
e. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 2.0 percent;
f. Corn, -10.4 percent;
g. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals, 9.9 percent;
h. Milk, other dairy products, and eggs, 16.2 percent; and
i. Ready-made food and other food products N.E.C., 6.5 percent.

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

Table D. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in Ilocos Region, All Items
In Percent: 2020-2023 (2018=100)

Figure 2. Headline Inflation Rates by Province, Ilocos Region
May 2022 and May 2023 (2018=100)

Among the provinces, Pangasinan posted the highest inflation rate at 6.1 percent in May 2023 followed by Ilocos Sur at 4.8 percent. The lowest inflation rate of 3.4 percent was registered in La Union and Ilocos Norte.

Compared to their respective levels in May 2022, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur both decreased by 3.7 percentage points. Meanwhile, La Union exhibited decreased inflation rate by 0.8 percentage point. On the other hand, the province of Pangasinan exhibited increase in its inflation rate by 0.9 percentage point.