Tarlac’s Inflation Increases to 4.1 Percent

Inflation in the Province of Tarlac increased to 4.1 percent in December 2024 from 3.8 percent in November 2024. With this month’s inflation, the province’s average inflation from January to December 2024 stood at 3.9 percent. In December 2023, inflation rate was posted at 1.9 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:

a. Transport at 1.9 percent, with a 1.3 percent increase from 0.6 percent in the previous month;
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 8.0 percent, with a 1.1 percent increase    from 6.9 percent in the previous month;
c. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.8 percent, with a 0.7 percent increase from 4.1 percent    in the previous month; and
d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.2 percent, with a 0.5 percent increase    from 1.7 percent in the previous month.

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

a. Restaurants and accommodation services at 2.8 percent; with a 2.9 percent decrease from 5.7    percent in the previous month
b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 4.3 percent, with a 0.8 percent decrease from 5.1 percent in    the previous month;
c. Recreation, sport and culture at 2.2 percent, with a 0.7 percent decrease from 2.9 percent in    the previous month;
d. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 3.1 percent, with a 0.1    percent decrease from 3.2 percent in the previous month;
e. Health at 0.2 percent, with a 0.1 percent decrease from 0.3 percent in the previous month; and
f. Information and Communication at 0.4 percent, with a 0.1 decrease from 0.5 percent in the    previous month.

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

a. Clothing and footwear at -0.2 percent;
b. Education services at -1.1 percent; and
c. Financial services at 0.0 percent.

The items for food commodity groups that showed a decrease during the month were: (Table C)

a. Cereals (ND) at 0.1 percent, with a 4.9 percent decrease from 5.0 percent in the previous month;
b. Milk, other dairy products, and eggs at 1.0 percent, with a 1.1 percent decrease from 2.1 percent in the previous month; and
c. Ready-made food and other food products N.E.C. at 3.2 percent, with a 0.2 percent decrease from 3.4 percent in the previous month.
On the other hand, the following food groups exhibited an increase in annual growth during the month: (Table C)
a. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 23.4 percent, with a 12.7 percent increase from 10.7 percent in the previous month;
b. Fruits and nuts at 7.3 percent, with a 5.3 percent increase from 2.0 percent in the previous month;
c. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at -2.2 percent, with a 1.7 percent increase from -3.9 percent in the previous month.
d. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 7.1 percent, with a 0.8 percent increase from 6.3 percent in the previous month;
e. Fish and other seafood at 1.6 percent, with a 1.2 percent increase from 0.4 percent in the previous month;
f. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 3.0 percent, with a 0.1 percent increase from 2.9 percent in the previous month;
g. Oils and Fats at 2.7 percent, with a 0.1 increase from 2.6 percent in the previous month;

In Central Luzon, the province of Pampanga had the highest inflation rate for the month of December 2024 with 4.8 percent. This was followed by the province of Tarlac with 4.1 percent, province of Aurora with 3.8 percent, province of Bulacan with 3.1 percent, Nueva Ecija with 2.1 percent, and province of Bataan with 1.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the province of Zambales had the least inflation rate posted at 1.3 percent. (Figure 2)

HERMAN J. VITAL
Chief Statistical Specialist
PSA Tarlac

/BJDU/EBAN/ACO