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 10.1 percent in July 2022, from 8.4 percent in June 2022. This is the highest recorded inflation since January 2019. Inflation in July 2021 was significantly lower at
0.7 percent. The average inflation for the first seven months of the year stood at 6.8 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 14.3 percent; clothing and footwear, at 6.1 percent; and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, at 6.6 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, 5.3 percent;
b.    Recreation, sport, and culture, 6.9 percent;
c.    Furnishings,    household    equipment,    and    routine    household maintenance, 6.0 percent;
d.    Information and communication, -0.2 percent; and
e.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 7.2 percent.

On the other hand, Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and Transport registered a slowdown of 3.9 percent and 15.7 percent respectively. While the rest of the commodity groups showed no month-on-month change in inflation.

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

Food index increased further by 15.0 percent in July 2022, from 11.1 percent in the previous month. In July 2021, food index was lower, at -3.2 percent. (Table C)

During this period, major contributors to the uptrend in the food index were higher increments for Fish and other seafood, 25.9 percent; Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 19.2 percent and Sugar, confectionery, and desserts, at 38.1 percent. Additionally, higher growth rates were observed in the following food indices:

a.    Rice, 4.3 percent;
b.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 4.9 percent;
c.    Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals, 9.6 percent;
d.    Oils and fats, 15.5 percent; and
e.    Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., 11.3 percent;

Meanwhile, the following food commodity groups which exhibited a slowdown in inflation are:
a.    Fruits and Nuts, 40.1 percent;
b.    Vegetables,    tubers,    plantains,    cooking    bananas    and    pulses,    23.8 percent; and
c.    Corn, at 2.5 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 – July 2022
(2018=100)