The rate of increase in the prices of goods and services in Western Visayas decelerated in September, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Based on the latest PSA report, inflation in the region clocked in at 3.4 percent last month, lower compared to August’s 4.9 percent.
PSA-6 chief statistical specialist Marlene Alviar said the deceleration was mainly due to a slower rise in the costs for food and transport.
The food and non-alcoholic beverages commodity group saw an inflation rate of 3.3 percent, lower compared to 6.2 percent in August while transport inflation slowed down to -2.1 percent from 0.7 percent.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed a 79.4 percent share to the downtrend inflation, while transport had a 15.7 percent share.
Other groups that posted lower inflation rates were alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.3 percent from 3.7 percent); recreation, sport and culture (3.8 percent from 4.2 percent); education services (8.1 percent from 10.3 percent); restaurants and accommodation services (6.1 percent from 6.2 percent); and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services (2.8 percent from 3.2 percent).
On the other hand, clothing and footwear (3.8 percent from 3.6 percent); furnishing, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (2.5 percent from 2.4 percent); and health (3.1 percent from 3 percent) logged higher inflation rates.
Three other commodity groups recorded constant inflation, including housing, water, electricity, and other fuels; information and communication; and financial services at 5.6 percent, 0.9 percent, and -1.0 percent, respectively.
All the five provinces in the region – Iloilo, Aklan, Guimaras, Capiz, Antique and Negros Occidental – as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod recorded lower inflation rates.IMT
