Bohol

The headline inflation in Bohol increased further to 5.2 percent in April 2022, from 5.0 percent in March 2022. This is the highest recorded inflation since January 2019 (Table C). Inflation in April 2021 was lower at 2.9 percent. The average inflation for the first four months of the year stood at 3.9 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

In comparison to national and regional figures, Bohol’s inflation rate (IR) in April is higher by 0.3 percentage points than the national IR but is lower by 0.2 than the regional IR.

The increase in the province’s inflation was mainly brought about by the higher annual increase in the index for Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages at 2.4 percent; Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels, 12.2 percent; and Transport, 9.6 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:        

a.   Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 3.6 percent;

b.   Restaurants and Accommodation Services, 4.1 percent;

c.   Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 3.1; and

d.   Health, 1.7 percent.

Meanwhile, as compared with their previous month’s inflation rates, annual upticks slowed down in most of the major commodity groups.

The commodity groups Clothing and Footwear; Information and Communication; Recreation, Sport and Culture; and Education Services    either retained their previous month’s inflation rates or had zero percent annual growths.

For food index, it increased further by 2.3 percent in April 2022, from 0.9 percent in the previous month. In April 2021, food index was higher at 2.9 percent.

The annual growth rate of Fish and other seafood went up to 7.8 percent during the month, from -0.4 in the previous month. In addition, double-digit growth rates were observed in oils and fats index at 19.3 percent; and sugar, confectionery and desserts at 15.2 percent. The following food groups had higher annual increments during the month:

a.   Fish and other seafood, 7.8 percent;

b.   Oils and fats index at 19.3 percent;

c.   Fruits and Nuts, -7.4 percent;

d.   Vegetables, Tubers, Cooking Bananas and Pulses at -12.8; and

e.   Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., -1.1 percent.

On the other hand, the corn index had a lower annual uptick at 15.8 percent. The rice index remained at 5.6 percent inflation.

JESSAMYN ANNE C. ALCAZAREN (SGD)
Chief Statistical Specialist
PSA Bohol