Headline Inflation

The headline inflation for all income households in the province of Agusan del Sur further dropped to 0.6 percent in December 2024 from 0.7 in November 2024. This is 0.1 % lower as compared to preceding month of this year. Inflation in December 2023 was higher at 5.1 percent. The average inflation from January 2024 to December 2024 stood at 2.6 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

For comparison, the provincial headline inflation for all income households in December 2024 is slower than the regional and national inflation at 1.5 and 2.9 percent respectively.

Among the 13 commodity groups, the downtrend in the overall inflation in December 2024 of the province was brought about by by the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.1 percent from 2.5 percent in November 2024. This was followed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at -3.4 percent from -3.2 percent in the previous month. 

In addition, lower annual increments which contributed to the downtrend in the inflation rate during the month were also depicted in the indices of the commodity groups of the following:

a)    Clothing and footwear, (0.1) percent from (0.2) percent;
b)    Recreation, Sport and Culture, (2.4) percent from (2.6) percent.

On the other hand, higher annual growth rate was observed in the indices of the following:

a)    Transport, (-0.8) percent from ( -2.4);
b)    Personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, (2.4) percent from (2.5) percent.

The rest of the commodity groups that maintained steady rates were reported in the indices of Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, (2.1) percent; Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance, (0.6) percent; Health, (2.0) percent; Information and communication, (1.2) percent; Education Services, (0.3) percent; Restaurants and Accommodation services, (0.0) percent and Financial Services, (1.4) percent.

Food Inflation

Food inflation for all income households at the provincial level continued to drop to 2.4 percent in December 2024 from 2.5 percent in November 2024. In December 2023, food inflation was higher at 8.3 percent. 
The downtrend on inflation for food in December 2024 was mainly influenced by the lower year-on-year growth rate on rice at 5.5 percent from 6.0 percent in November 2024. This was followed by vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, (-6.3) percent from (-2.8) percent. Furthermore, inflation on fruits and nuts at 5.2 percent from 7.4 percent and ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., (3.1) percent from (5.6) percent declined in December 2024 as compared with the previous month.

On the contrary, the following food groups recorded an uptick in inflation rate during the month:

a)    Oils and fats, (15.1) percent from (9.8) percent;
b)    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, (3.9) percent from (3.5) percent.
c)    Sugar, confectionery and desserts, (-7.6) percent from (-10.7) percent;
d)    Fish and other seafoods, (2.7) percent from (2.5) percent;
e)    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, (1.4) percent from (0.6) percent. 

(Sgd.) DEMETRIO T. DEJOLDE JR.
Chief Statistical Specialist