1. Caraga

The headline inflation in Caraga decreased to 7.3 percent in November 2022, from 7.8 percent in October 2022 but increased from 4.2 percent in November 2021. The average inflation from January to November 2022 was posted at 6.0 percent. (Table A and B and Figure 1)

The decline in the region’s inflation was mainly brought by the lower indices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 7.9 percent, from 9.4 percent in the previous month; transport at 5.8 percent, from 6.9 percent in the previous month; and food and non-alcoholic beverages at 9.5 percent, from 9.7 percent in October 2022. Also contributing to the downtrend in the overall inflation during the period were the lower increments in the indices of the following commodity groups as compared with their previous month’s inflation rates:

1. Alcoholic beverages and Tobacco, 9.8 percent;

2. Health, 1.6 percent; 

3. Information and communication, 0.5 percent;

4. Recreation, sport and culture, 3.4 percent; and

5. Restaurants and accommodation services, 7.5 percent.

Further, the same inflation rate from its previous month’s rate was recorded in the indices of the following commodity groups:

1. Furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance, 1.6 percent;

2. Education services, 3.5 percent; 

3. Financial services, 0.0 percent; and

4. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.4 percent.                                                                                                                                                               

On the other hand, higher year-on-year growth rate in the index of clothing and footwear was noted at 2.1 percent, from 1.9 percent in October 2022.

For food index, it decreased to 10.0 percent in November 2022, from 10.2 percent in October 2022 but increased from 3.9 percent in November 2021. (Table D)

The deceleration in the food inflation was primarily influenced by the lower annual growth in the fish and other seafood index at 6.9 percent, from 8.8 percent in the previous month. (Table D)

Further, the following food groups have lower increments during the month: 

1.        Rice, 3.2 percent;

2.        Oils and fats, 11.1 percent; 

3.        Fruits and nuts, 16.0 percent; and

4.        Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c, 7.6 percent.

On the contrary, the following food groups registered a higher annual uptick compared to its previous month’s inflation:

1.       Corn, 13.5 percent;

2.       Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals, 7.8 percent;

3.       Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 5.2 percent;

4.      Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 15.7 percent; and

Sugar, confectionary and desserts, 48.0 percent. 

2. Provinces and HUC

In comparison with their annual growth rates in October 2022, the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and the City of Butuan (HUC) registered a deceleration in their inflation rates during the reference month. On the other hand, Surigao del Norte’s inflation rate in November 2022 accelerated to 6.3 percent.

In Caraga, the Province of Dinagat Islands registered the highest inflation rate at 9.5 percent while Surigao del Norte registered the lowest inflation rate at 6.3 percent in November 2022. (Table A).

Note:

CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are posted on the PSA website (http://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

  (Sgd.)ROSALINDA C. APURA, D.M.
  Regional Director