Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (PNA)
DAGUPAN CITY – The inflation rate in the Ilocos Region reached 9.3 percent in January, a 1.1 percent higher than the previous month.
In a statement, Philippine Statistics Authority-Ilocos Regional Director Shiela De Guzman said the higher inflation was driven by higher expenses on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 12.0 percent; food and non-alcoholic beverages at 11.7 percent; and alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 8.6 percent.
"Also contributing to the uptrend in the overall inflation during the period were the higher annual increments in the indices of the following commodity groups as compared with their previous month’s inflation rates," De Guzman said.
This includes routine and household maintenance at 8.2 percent, personal care and miscellaneous good at 6.2 percent, clothing and footwear at 5.1 percent, restaurants and accommodation services at 4.7 percent, recreation, sport and culture at 3.8 percent, and information and communication at 0.9 percent.
On Tuesday, the country has posted an 8.7 percent inflation rate, the highest recorded since 2008.
Ilocos Sur recorded the highest inflation rate at 10.3 percent, followed by Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte at 10.2 percent, and 7.5 percent, respectively. La Union recorded the lowest inflation rate at 6.7 percent.
"Compared to their respective levels in January 2022, most of the provinces exhibited increased inflation rates. Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur have increased by 4.5 percentage points, and 2.6 percentage points, respectively, while La Union and Pangasinan increased by 5.8 and 6.9 percentage points, respectively," she added.
Annual upticks slowed down in transport at 8.6 percent, and clothing and footwear, 6.5 percent. The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates or had 0 percent annual growths.
She said the food index of Ilocos Region increased by 12.2 percent in January 2023, from 10.2 percent in the previous month.
Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses posted 55.9 percent, sugar, confectionery and desserts at 46.1 percent, milk, other dairy products and eggs at 13.2 percent, fruits and nuts at 10.1 percent, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 9.5 percent.
Meanwhile, there was a decline in the annual indices in oils and fats at 18.7 percent and meat, and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 4.7 percent were recorded.
Some residents in the region gather their vegetables and livestock from their backyard gardens and pens to cushion the impact of inflation on their budget. (PNA)
