The increase in the region’s inflation was primarily due to the higher annual growth rate in the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages at 11.7 percent, from 10.5 percent in September 2022.

Furthermore, the continued uptrend in the overall inflation in October 2022 was brought about by the higher annual increments in the indices of the following commodity groups:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 12.2 percent;

b. Clothing and footwear at 4.7 percent;

c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 6.5 percent;

d. Health at 5.3 percent;

e. Information and communication at 1.1 percent;

f. Recreation, sport and culture at 5.1 percent;

g. Restaurants and accommodation services at 6.4 percent; and

h. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 5.7 percent

On the other hand, a lower annual increment was observed in the commodity groups for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 8.4 percent, and transport at 15.3 percent. Meanwhile, the indices for education services and financial services retained their previous month’s inflation rates. (Table 3)

Moreover, the upward inflation trend of the food index was principally attributed to the increase in the annual growth rate of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses at 16.7 percent. The following food groups also displayed faster annual growth rates:

1. Rice at 2.8 percent;
2. Corn at 38.1 percent;
3. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 8.8 percent;
4. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 12.5 percent;
5. Milk, other dairy products, and eggs at 7.9 percent;
6. Fruits and nuts at 8.4 percent;
7. Sugar, confectionery, and desserts at 46.8 percent; and
8. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. at 8.4 percent.

Meanwhile, lower annual upticks were recorded in Fish and other seafood at 14.0 percent, and oils and fats at 28.7 percent. (Table 4)