Inflation in the  province of  Cagayan  accelerated  to 5.7  percent in  December 2024, from 4.5 percent  recorded in November 2024.  In December 2023, inflation rate was lower at 3.5 percent. (Table A, D, and Figure 1). 

The faster inflation in the province was brought about by the increase in housing, water, electricity,  gas and other fuels at  8.8 percent  in  December  2024  as  compared  with 4.4 percent recorded  in  November 2024.   It   was  followed  by  transport  at 0.1 percent in December 2024 from -1.3 percent in November 2024. The following also contributed to the December 2024 inflation:
a.    Restaurant and accommodation services at 15.7 percent from 14.7 percent
b.    Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.8 percent from 4.1 percent
c.    Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 5.3 percent from 4.8 percent
d.    Furnishing,  household  equipment  and  routine  household  maintenance  at       
6.6 percent from 6.4 percent

Despite the faster inflation in the province, some decelerations were observed in the indices of the following group of commodities:

a.    Clothing and footwear at 4.4 percent from 5.6 percent
b.    Personal  care  and  miscellaneous  goods  and  services  at  5.5  percent  from 6.7 percent
c.    Recreation, sport and culture at 2.7 percent from 3.7 percent
d.    Health at 2.2 percent from 2.6 percent

Meanwhile, indices of the following commodity group remained constant for December 2024:

a.    Information and communication at 1.3 percent
b.    Education services at 1.7 percent
c.    Financial services at 0.0 percent     
 

Inflation  for  food   index  for   the   province of  Cagayan  was  faster  at  5.0  percent in 
December  2024, from 4.2 percent in November 2024. In December 2023, food inflation was higher at 5.4 percent.

The faster food inflation was yielded by the higher year-on-year annual growth in the index of Vegetables, tubers plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 40.6 percent   in  December 2024 from 18.0 percent in November 2024.   Additionally, higher annual mark-ups were observed in the indices of the following food groups during the month in review:
a.    Fish and other seafoods at 5.5 percent from 3.5 percent
b.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered animals at 5.0 percent from 4.0 percent
c.    Fruits and nuts at 0.4 percent from -7.6 percent

Despite the faster food inflation in the province of Cagayan, a significant decrease was observed in corn at -3.9 percent in December 2024 from 1.1 percent in the previous month. Additionally, the following commodities also showed slower inflation:

a.    Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 4.4 percent from 5.6 percent
b.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 10.0 percent from 11.8 percent
c.    Ready-made food and other food products N.E.C. at 7.9 percent from 
8.3 percent

On the other hand, negative inflation was observed in the following food groups:

a.    Oils and fats at -0.4 percent from -2.0
b.    Sugar, confectionary and dessert at -8.9 percent from -5.2 percent

Note:
CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are posted at the PSA website (https://www.psa.gov.ph/).

CRISTETA M. RETOMA
Supervising Statistical Specialist
Officer-In-Charge

/SESRE/ADB