Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates: Philippines, 
MIMAROPA, and Palawan 
All Items, In Percent 
(2018=100)

Palawan

The headline inflation in the province of Palawan decreased considerably to 3.5 percent in March 2024, from 4.0 percent in the previous month. In March 2023, inflation rate is higher at 9.0 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

The downtrend in the provincial inflation during the month was influenced by the lower index for Transport at -2.9 percent from -1.3 in the previous month. This was followed by Restaurants and Accommodation Services, which posted an inflation rate of 0.5 percent from 2.8 percent last month. The index on Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, posted at 3.8 percent inflation rate from 4.0 percent in February 2024 also contributed to the decline.

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

     a. Clothing and Footwear, 2.3 percent from 3.9 percent;
     b. Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Good and Services at 2.4 percent from 3.9 percent;
     c. Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routing Household Maintenance, 1.8 percent from 3.0 percent;
     d. Health, 1.5 percent from 2.0 percent; and
     e. Recreation, Sport, and Culture, 8.8 percent from 9.9 percent. 

Meanwhile, higher inflation rates were observed in the indices of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, which registered a 7.8 percent inflation from 6.1 percent in the previous month; and Information and Communication at 0.1 percent inflation rate from 0.0 percent in February 2024.

Meanwhile, two commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates, namely: Education Services at 7.0, and Financial Services at -1.1 percent. 

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in Palawan, 
All Items, In Percent 
(2018=100)

Food index for March 2024 remained at 3.9 percent inflation rate. In March 2023, the food index was higher, at 12.7 percent inflation rate, (Table C).

The food inflation for the month was brought about by the changes in the indices of the different food groups. Higher index was recorded in the following food commodity groups:

     (a) Cereals, 18.3 percent from 16.9 percent; 
     (b) Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals at 2.9 percent inflation from 0.2 percent;
     (c) Oils and Fats, -6.3 percent from -6.5 percent;
     (d)Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas and Pulses, -2.2 percent from -12.8 percent; and
     (e)Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts at -9.9 percent inflation from -10.0 percent. 

In contrast, lower inflation rates were observed in the following food commodity groups:

     a) Flour, Bread and other Bakery Products, Pasta Products and other Cereals, 3.2 percent from 4.2 percent;
     b) Fish and Other Seafood, -10.4 percent from -0.6 percent;
     c) Milk, Other Dairy Products and Eggs, 0.6 percent from 5.8 percent;
     d) Fruits and Nuts at 5.3 percent inflation rate, from 8.0 percent; and
     e) Ready-made Food and Other Food Products n.e.c. at 2.1 percent inflation rate, from 2.8 percent.

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

Table D. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in Palawan, 
All Items, In Percent 
January 2021 – March 2024 
(2018=100)

(SGD) MARIA LALAINE M. RODRIGUEZ
Chief Statistical Specialist