Aurora’s annual inflation hiked up to 1.6 percent in May 2024 which was 1.1 percent point higher from 0.5 percent in April 2024 and 3.8 percentage points lower from 5.4 percent in May 2023. (Refer to Figure 1)

Across regions, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has the highest inflation rate recorded at 5.9 percent in May 2024, followed by Davao Region at 5.3 percent. Meanwhile, Ilocos Region remained to have the lowest inflation rate at 2.3 percent.

The headline inflation in the country increased from 3.8 percent in April 2024 to 3.9 percent in May 2024.

Figure 2 presents the annual inflation rates of the different regions in the Philippines in May 2024.

In Aurora, the increase in inflation could be mainly attributed to the higher increment posted by the index of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels at -8.1 percent from -19.2 percent in April 2024. This was followed by the index of Transport at 0.5 percent.

Listed below are the indices that recorded higher monthly increments:

•    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (4.8%);
•    Health (1.5%); and
•    Information and Communication (0.0%).

On the other hand, lower monthly increments were recorded in the following indices:

•    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (5.0%); 
•    Clothing and Footwear (4.5%);
•    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (1.9%); 
•    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (0.0 %); and
•    Recreation, Sport and Culture (6.8%).

Lastly, the following indices showed same rate from that of the previous month:

•    Education Services (0.4%); 
•    Restaurants and Accommodation Services (2.6%); and
•    Financial Services (0.0%). (Table 1)

The annual growth rate in the provincial food index posted a decrease in rate at 1.8 percentage points from 6.9 percent in April 2024 to 5.1 percent in May 2024. This trend was attributed by the lower monthly increments of the index of Rice at 24.0 percent in May 2024 from 28.3 percent in April 2024. This was followed by the index of Cereals at 23.9 percent in May 2024. (Refer to Table 1.a)

Listed below are the following indices that recorded lower annual increments from April 2024 to May 2024:

•    Fish and other seafood (-0.3%);
•    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (2.3%);
•    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals (5.0%);
•    Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas, and Pulses (8.7%);
•    Milk, Other Dairy Products, and Eggs (-6.7%);
•    Ready-made Food and Other Food Products N.E.C (6.0%); and
•    Oils and Fats (-9.0%).

Meanwhile, higher annual increment was noted only in the following indices:

•    Fruits and Nuts (5.8%).
•    Corn (18.1%); and
•    Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts (-7.9%).
(Refer to Table 1a)

Nueva Ecija recorded the highest inflation rate in the region at 6.4 percent followed by Bulacan at 5.4 percent. Olongapo City and Tarlac ranked 3rd and 4th at 4.8 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. This was followed by Pampanga at 3.5 percent, Bataan at 3.3 percent, and Angeles City that remained at 3.0 percent.

Zambales recorded an inflation rate of 2.9 percent which is higher compared to 2.8 percent in April 2024. Aurora recorded the lowest inflation rate in the region at 1.6 percent. (Refer to Figure 3)

FERDINAND E. SANTIAGO
(Supervising Statistical Specialist) 
Officer-in-Charge
PSA Aurora