Tarlac’s Inflation Increases to 5.2 Percent

Inflation in the Province of Tarlac slightly increased to 5.2 percent in July 2024 from

4.0 percent in June 2024. With this month’s inflation, the province’s average inflation from January to July 2024 stood at 3.8 percent. In July 2023, inflation rate was posted at 2.7 percent. (Figure 1 and Table A)

The increased in the province’s inflation was mainly brought about by the increased in the index of the following commodity groups:

1. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 7.3 percent, with a 6.4 percent increase from 0.9 percent in the previous month;

2. Transport at 4.7 percent, with a 0.8 percent increase from 3.9 percent in the previous month;

3. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 6.0 percent, with a 0.2 percent increase from 5.8 percent in the previous month; and

4. Information and Communication at 0.4 percent, with a 0.1 increase from 0.3 percent in the previous month.

On the other hand, the commodity group that decreased in their index are the following:

1. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 3.9 percent, with a 0.8 percent decrease from 4.7 percent in the previous month;

2. Clothing and footwear at 1.6 percent, with a 0.4 percent decrease from 2.0 percent in the previous month;

3. Health at 0.4 percent, with a 0.3 percent decrease from 0.7 percent in the previous month; and

4. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.8 percent, with a 0.1 percent decrease from 2.9 percent in the previous month.

Meanwhile, the following commodity group that retained their previous month’s inflation rates are:

1. Restaurants and accommodation services, at 5.2 percent;

2. Recreation, sport and culture at 4.1 percent;

3. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 3.8 percent;

4. Education services at 1.6 percent; and

5. Financial services at 0.0 percent.

On the other hand, the following food groups exhibited a decreased in annual growth during the month: (Table C)

• Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 3.0 percent, with a 2.1 percent decrease from 5.1 percent in the previous month;

•   Ready-made food and other food products N.E.C. at 4.6 percent, with a 1.0 percent decrease from 5.6 percent in the previous month; and

• Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at  4.2 percent, with a 0.1 percent decrease from 4.3 percent in the previous month.

   

In Central Luzon, the province of Nueva Ecija had the highest inflation rate for the month of July  2024  with  5.9  percent.  This  was  followed  by  the  province  of  Bulacan  with

5.8 percent, province of Tarlac with 5.2 percent, province of Pampanga with 5.1 percent, Bataan with 3.1 percent, and province of Aurora with 2.8 percent.

Meanwhile,    the     province    of    Zambales    had     the     least                       inflation              rate posted         at 2.6 percent. (Figure 2)