Aurora’s annual inflation increased to 2.7 percent in October 2024 which was 2.5 percent point higher from 0.2 percent in September 2024 and 0.4 percentage points lower from 3.1 percent in October 2023. (Refer to Figure 1)

Across regions, Western Visayas has the highest inflation rate recorded at 3.9 percent in October 2024, followed by Bicol Region at 3.6 percent. Meanwhile, Cordillera Administrative Region and National Capital Region has the lowest inflation rate at 1.4 percent.

The headline inflation in the country increased from 1.9 percent in September 2024 to 2.3 percent in October 2024.

Figure 2 presents the annual inflation rates of the different regions in the Philippines in October 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 2.1 percent from -2.0 percent in September 2024. This was followed by the index of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels at 9.6 percent.

Listed below are the indices that recorded higher monthly increments:

•    Restaurants and Accommodation Services (1.8% from 1.1%);
•    Recreation, Sport and Culture (6.4% from 5.4%); 
•    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (2.8% from 2.4%); and
•    Health (13.9% from 13.8%).

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

•    Transport (8.5% from 5.8%);
•    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (-0.5% from -0.1%); and
•    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (0.5% from 0.9%).

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

•    Clothing and Footwear (1.4%); 
•    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 4.3 percentage points from -2.2 percent in September 2024 to 2.1 percent in October 2024. This trend was attributed by the higher monthly increments of the index of Rice at 6.0 percent in October 2024 from -6.5 percent in September 2024. (Refer to Table 1.a)

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

•    Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas, and Pulses (-8.8% from -23.2%)
•    Fruits and Nuts (9.8% from 7.8%);
•    Fish and other seafood (-0.3% from -0.6%); and
•    Oils and Fats (-2.5% from -5.2%).

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

•    Corn (15.9% from 25.9%); 
•    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals (4.2% from 5.0%);
•    Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts (-7.3% from -6.9%); and
•    Ready-made Food and Other Food Products N.E.C (7.1% from 7.9%).

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

•    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (4.7%); and
•    Milk, Other Dairy Products, and Eggs (4.0%).
(Refer to Table 1a)

For October 2024, Pampanga recorded the highest inflation rate in the region at 4.6 percent followed by Olongapo at 4.3 percent. Angeles City and Tarlac ranked 3rd and 4th at 4.0 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. This was followed by Nueva Ecija at 2.8 percent and Aurora at 2.7 percent.

Zambales recorded an inflation rate of 1.3 percent while Bulacan recorded an inflation rate of 1.2 percent. Bataan recorded the lowest inflation rate in the region at 0.8 percent from 0.4 percent in September 2024. (Refer to Figure 3)

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