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

Palawan

The headline inflation in Palawan increased further to 7.6 percent in May 2022, from 6.6 percent in April 2022. This is the highest recorded inflation since February 2019. Inflation in May 2021 was lower at 2.3 percent. The average inflation for the first five months of the year stood at 5.8 percent. (Table A)

The growth in the provincial inflation can be mainly attributed to the higher annual increments in the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages at 9.7 percent; and transport, 16.5 percent. Furthermore, higher indices of the following commodity groups during the period also factored into the uptrend in the overall inflation rate of the province:

a.    Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 4.2 percent;
b.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 5.3 percent;
c.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 6.5 percent.
d.    Furnishings,    household    equipment,    and    routine    household maintenance, 5.1 percent;
e.    Clothing and footwear, 4.9 percent;
f.    Recreation, sport, and culture, 4.6 percent;
g.    Information and communication, -0.5 percent; and
h.    Health, 1.5 percent.
 

On the other hand, the index for Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels slowed down at 3.3 percent. While the rest of the commodity groups either retained their previous month’s inflation rates or had zero percent annual growths.

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

Food index increased further by 10.1 percent in May 2022, from 8.2 percent in the previous month. In May 2021, food index was lower, at -2.3 percent. (Table C)

During this period, major contributors to the uptrend in the food index were higher increments for Fish and other seafood, 7.1 percent; Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 14.1 percent and Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 24.5 percent. Additionally, higher growth rates were observed in the following food indices:

a.    Fruits and nuts, 29.5 percent;
b.    Sugar, confectionery, and desserts, 16.4 percent;
c.    Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified, 8.6 percent;
d.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 3.1 percent;
e.    Oils and fats, 12.3 percent; and
f.    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, And Other Cereals, 7.3 percent.

On the other hand, the corn index remained at 3.2 percent inflation. Only the rice index registered a slowdown at 4.7 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 2019 – May 2022
(2018=100)