Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates: Philippines, 
MIMAROPA, and the City of Puerto Princesa 
All Items, In Percent 
(2018=100)

City of Puerto Princesa

The headline inflation in the City of Puerto Princesa for May 2024 decreased to 4.0 percent from 4.7 percent in the previous month. In May 2023, the headline inflation was higher, at 4.2 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

The downtrend in the overall inflation in the city was primarily influenced by the lower indices for Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels, at 7.1 percent inflation rate from 9.0 percent in April 2024; Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 0.8 percent inflation rate from 2.4 percent; and Food and Non-alcoholic beverages at 5.4 percent inflation rate from 5.6 percent last month.

In addition, lower inflation rates were also observed in the following indices:

     a. Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 3.3 percent from 5.6 percent;
     b. Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routing Household Maintenance, 1.0 percent from 1.5 percent;
     c. Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 1.2 percent, from 1.5 percent; 
     d. Clothing and Footwear, 0.3 percent from 0.5 percent;
     e. Recreation Sport and Culture, 2.9 percent from 4.1 percent; and
     f. Information and Communication at -1.0 percent from -0.9 percent.

On the other hand, only the Transport commodity group showed an increased growth rate posted at -0.3 percent, from -1.0 percent last month. 

Meanwhile, three commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates, namely: Health at 4.0 percent; Education Services at 0.9 percent, and Financial Services at 0.0 percent.

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in the City of Puerto Princesa, 
All Items, In Percent 
(2018=100)

Food index for May 2024 decreased to 5.7 percent inflation rate, from 5.9 percent in the previous month. In May 2023, the food index was lower, at 4.1 percent inflation rate, (Table C). 

The deceleration of the food inflation for the month was brought about by the lower indices on commodity groups of Fruits and Nuts, which decreased to -0.5 percent inflation rate from 6.4 percent; followed by Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals, posted at 3.2 percent rate, from 4.3 percent; and Cereals and cereal products, at 14.1 percent from 14.4 percent last month.

Also contributing to the downtrend in the food index are the commodity groups, Sugar, Confectionery, and Desserts, at -4.4 percent from -4.3 percent; and Flour, Bread and other Bakery Products, Pasta Products and other Cereals, at -1.0 percent from -0.5 percent last month. 

On the contrary, higher inflation rates were observed in the following food commodity groups: 

     a. Fish and other seafood, 3.2 percent from 1.1 percent;
     b. Milk, Other Dairy Products and Eggs, 1.7 percent from 1.0 percent;
     c. Oils and Fats, -5.0 percent from -5.7 percent;
     d. Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas, and Pulses, -1.3 percent from -2.1 percent; and
     e. Ready-made Food and Other Food Products n.e.c., 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent.

Table C. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in City of Puerto Princesa, 
By Food Group, In Percent 
(2018=100) 

Table D. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in City of Puerto Princesa, 
All Items, In Percent 
January 2021 – May 2024 
(2018=100)

(SGD) MARIA LALAINE M. RODRIGUEZ
Chief Statistical Specialist