Inflation, or the rate of increase in average prices of consumer goods and services, in Western Visayas for March this year remained unchanged from the previous month at 2.7 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-6).
The region’s latest inflation, based on data released by PSA-6, was primarily driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages with a 40 percent share, followed by housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels came in second with a 25.6 percent share; and restaurants and accommodation services with a 7.7 percent share.
Four commodity groups posted higher inflation last month. These were food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.5 percent from 2.4 percent); alcoholic berags and tobacco (5.2 percent from 5.0 percent); housing, water, electricity, has and other fuels (4,1 percent from 2.9 percent); and health (2.6 percent from 2.5 percent).
On the other hand, seven commodity groups registered slower inflation. These were clothing and footwear (3.7 percent from 2.4 percent); furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance (4.3 percent from 4.4 percent); transport (-1.1 percent from 1.0 percent) information and communication (0.3 percent from 3.2 percent); recreation, sports, and culture (3.0 percent from. 3.2 percent); restaurant and accommodation services (3.4 percent from 3.9 percent); and personal care and miscellaneous services (2.5 percent from. 2.7 percent).
The March inflation was lower compared to 3.1 percent recorded in the same month last year, but it was higher than the national average of 1.8 percent last month.
Among the regions outside the National Capital Region (NCR), WV had the second highest inflation, trailing only Cagayan Valley, which logged 2.9 percent.
Inflation is measured by the consumer price index (CPI).IMT
