Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates
for the Bottom 30% Income Households, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Retail Price Survey of Commodities for the Generation of Consumer Price Index

A.    The Philippines

The country’s inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households slowed down to 2.5 percent in September 2024 from 4.7 percent in August 2024. This is the lowest inflation rate for this particular income group since the 2.2 percent inflation rate recorded in May 2020. The average inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households from January to September 2024 is 4.6 percent. In September 2023, the inflation rate was posted at 6.9 percent. (Table A)

B. Central Visayas

1.    Regional Inflation

Following the trend at the national level, inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in Central Visayas eased to 1.8 percent in September 2024 from 5.2 percent in August 2024. The region’s average inflation for this income group from January to September 2024 stood at 4.4 percent. In September 2023, the inflation rate in the region recorded at 6.1 percent. (Table A)

C. City of Mandaue

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Mandaue had a slower increase at 6.6 percent in September 2024 from 7.3 percent in August 2024. This brings the city’s average inflation at 9.4 percent from January to September 2024.  In September 2023, the inflation rate was lower which recorded at 5.5 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

1.1    Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Headline Inflation in the City of Mandaue

The main drivers to the deceleration of the headline inflation rate during the month were mainly brought by the slower year-on-year increases of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.7 percent, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 29.3 percent, and transport at 0.3 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 3.7 percent, 31.0 percent, and 1.2 percent. (Table 3)

Slower annual increments were also observed in the indices of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 3.5 percent and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 3.8 percent in September 2024 from their respective inflation rates at 3.7 percent and 3.9 percent in August 2024. (Table 3)

Meanwhile, the indices of commodity groups that retained their previous month’s inflation were as follows:

a.    Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 0.4 percent;
b.    Clothing and footwear, 0.9 percent;
c.    Health, 4.3 percent;
d.    Information and communication, 0.0 percent;
e.    Recreation, sport and culture, 22.5 percent;
f.    Education services, 0.0 percent;
g.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 0.9 percent; and
h.    Financial services, 0.0 percent. (Table 3)

1.2    Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The following commodity groups were the top three contributors to the September 2024 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Mandaue:

a)    Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 72.0 percent share or 4.8 percentage points;
b)    Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 19.5 percent share or 1.3 percentage points; and
c)    Recreation, sport and culture with 2.7 percent share or 0.2 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Mandaue had a slower increase at 2.8 percent in September 2024 from 3.9 percent in August 2024. In September 2023, the food inflation stood at 8.3 percent. (Table 7)

2.1    Main Drivers to the Downtrend of Food Inflation

The downtrend in the food inflation in September 2024 was primarily driven by the slower annual increase in the indices of rice at 2.8 percent and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 4.2 percent from their respective previous month’s inflation rates at 9.3 percent and 4.7 percent. Also contributed to the deceleration of food inflation were the faster year-on-year decreases of corn at 9.1 percent and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 3.5 percent from their respective inflation rates at 14.1 percent and 9.2 percent annual increase in August 2024. (Table 5)

Slower annual increase was also noted in ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified index at 5.6 percent in September 2024 from 6.9 percent while faster annual decrease in sugar, confectionary and desserts at 7.4 percent from 7.0 percent annual drop in the previous month. (Table 5)

In contrast, the following food groups registered higher inflation rates during the month:

a.    Fish and other seafood, 4.2 percent from -9.8 percent;
b.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 5.4 percent from -0.7 percent; and
c.    Fruits and nuts, 15.3 percent from 13.5 percent. (Table 5)

Meanwhile, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals index retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 1.3 percent while no price movement in oils and fats index. (Table 5)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 18.6 percent share or 1.2 percentage points to the September 2024 overall inflation for this particular income group.

Among the food groups, the main contributors to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a.    Cereals and cereal products, which includes rice, corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals, with 28.2 percent share or 0.8 percentage point;
b.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 22.6 percent share or 0.6 percentage point; and
c.    Fish and other seafood pulses with 22.6 percent share or 0.6 percentage point.

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for the Bottom 30% Income Households in the City of Mandaue, All Items
In Percent
January 2019 – September 2024
(2018=100)

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

MLA/KST/MJDG