Aurora’s annual inflation increased to 3.5 percent in November 2024 which was 0.7 percent point higher from 2.7 percent in October 2024 and 1.3 percentage points higher from 2.2 percent in November 2023. (Refer to Figure 1)

Across regions, Cagayan Valley has the highest inflation rate recorded at 3.4 percent in November 2024, followed by Western Visayas at 3.2 percent. Meanwhile, BARMM, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga Region had the lowest inflation rate at 1.7 percent.

The headline inflation in the country increased from 2.3 percent in October 2024 to 2.5 percent in November 2024.

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

In Aurora, the increase in inflation could be mainly attributed to the higher increment posted by the index of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 3.6 percent from 2.1 percent in October 2024. This was followed by the index of Transport at -5.1 percent.

Listed below are the indices that recorded higher monthly increments:

•    Restaurants and Accommodation Services (5.0% from 1.8%);
•    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (1.4% from 0.5%).
•    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (3.7% from 2.8%); and
•    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (-0.4% from -0.5%).

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

•    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels (6.2% from 9.6%); and
•    Recreation, Sport and Culture (5.7% from 6.4%); 

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

•    Clothing and Footwear (1.4%); 
•    Health (13.9%);
•    Information and Communication (0.1%); 
•    Education Services (22.9%); and
•    Financial Services (0.0%). (Table 1)

The annual growth rate in the provincial food index posted an increase in rate at 1.7 percentage points from 2.1 percent in October 2024 to 3.8 percent in November 2024. This trend was attributed by the higher monthly increments of the index of Corn at 24.0 percent in November 2024 from 15.9 percent in October 2024. (Refer to Table 1.a)

Listed below are the following indices that recorded higher annual increments from October 2024 to November 2024:

•    Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas, and Pulses (13.9% from -8.8%)
•    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals (4.5% from 4.2%);
•    Fish and other seafood (3.0% from -0.3%); 
•    Oils and Fats (-2.5% from -5.2%); and
•    Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts (-7.1% from -7.3%).

Meanwhile, lower annual increment was noted only in the following index:

•    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (3.4% from 4.7%); 
•    Rice (1.4% from 6.0%);
•    Milk, Other Dairy Products, and Eggs (3.2% from 4.0%);
•    Fruits and Nuts (1.4% from 9.8%); and
•    Ready-made Food and Other Food Products N.E.C (6.4% from 7.1%).
(Refer to Table 1a)

For November 2024, Olongapo City recorded the highest inflation rate in the region at 4.6 percent followed by Pampanga at 4.3 percent. Angeles City and Tarlac ranked 3rd and 4th at 4.0 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. This was followed by Aurora at 3.5 percent and Nueva Ecija at 2.3 percent.

Bulacan recorded an inflation rate of 1.7 percent while Zambales recorded an inflation rate of 1.6 percent. Bataan still recorded the lowest inflation rate in the region at 1.4 percent from 0.8 percent in October 2024. (Refer to Figure 3)

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