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 February 2024 further decelerated to 3.6 percent from 4.1 percent in the previous month. In February 2023, the headline inflation was higher, at 7.5 percent. (Table A and Figure 1) 

The downtrend in the overall inflation in the city was primarily influenced by the lower index for Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 8.1 percent in February 2024, from 9.6 in the previous month. In addition, lower inflation rates were observed in the index of Transport, which posted lower inflation rate of -1.7 percent, from -0.2 percent, and Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance at 2.5 percent, from 3.8 percent in January 2024. 

Furthermore, lower growth rates were observed in the following commodities: 

     a. Clothing and Footwear, 2.4 percent from 2.9 percent;
     b. Restaurants and Accommodation Services, 6.0 percent from 6.3 percent;
     c. Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 3.9 percent, from 4.2 percent;
     d. Information and Communication, -0.7 percent from -0.4 percent; and
     e. Recreation Sport and Culture, 5.4 percent from 6.1 percent. 

On the contrary, commodities which registered higher growth rates are the following: 

     a. Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 1.6 percent from 1.4 percent; and
     b. Health, 3.8 percent, from 3.5 percent.

Meanwhile, three commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates, namely: Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 12.4 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 February 2024 rose to 1.5 percent inflation rate, from 1.1 percent in the previous month. In February 2023, the food index was higher, at 11.6 percent inflation rate, (Table C).

The acceleration of the food inflation for the month was brought about by the higher index for Rice, posted at 17.6 percent rate, from 13.6 percent last month. This was followed by Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas and Pulses at -17.7 percent inflation rate, from -19.7 percent. Also contributing to the uptrend in the food index is the spike on the commodity group Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals, which increased to -0.1 percent inflation rate, from -0.6 percent in the previous month.

Furthermore, higher inflation rates were also observed in the following food groups: 

     a) Fruits and Nuts, -1.7 percent from -2.4 percent; and
     b) Corn, 17.6 percent from 14.6 percent.

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

     a) Flour, Bread and other Bakery Products, Pasta Products and other Cereals, -1.4 percent from 0.4 percent;
     b) Fish and Other Seafood, -4.1 percent from -1.2 percent;
     c) Milk, Other Dairy Products and Eggs, 2.1 percent from 5.0 percent;
     d) Oils and Fats, -6.4 percent from -5.0 percent;
     e) Sugar, Confectionery, and Desserts, -4.0 percent from -1.4 percent; and
     f) Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., 2.4 percent from 2.8 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 – February 2024 
(2018=100)

(SGD) MARIA LALAINE M. RODRIGUEZ
Chief Statistical Specialist