Davao Region’s inflation retained its previous month’s rate at 2.2 percent for April 2020. The inflation in April was lower as compared to the same month in the previous year at 3.9 percent. On the other hand, the purchasing power of the peso (PPP) remained at 81 centavos (see Table 1).

As the region’s inflation kept its preceding annual rate, the year-on-year provincial inflation rates of Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur lowered to 3.4 percent and 1.5 percent against its previous month’s annual rate at 3.7 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. On the other hand, Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro’s inflation rose to 1.5 percent and 3.9 percent, in which the latter had the highest inflation among the provinces in the region.

The steady inflation rate in April 2020 was mainly attributed to the further decrease in the transport index at -6.2 percent. Indices of other commodity groups that also contributed to the steady inflation were:

• Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels, 0.9 percent;

• Restaurant and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 2.8 percent; and

• Clothing and Footwear, 3.8 percent.

The indices of commodity groups such as Education; Recreation and Culture; and Communication retained its previous month’s annual rate at 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent, and 2.8 percent, respectively (see Table 2).

Meanwhile, the index Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages posted an annual increment of 2.9 percent during the month (see Table 2).

The indices of Corn (-1.5 percent), Rice (-0.2 percent), and Bread & Cereals (0.6 percent) were relatively higher with respect to their previous month’s annual rates of -10.4 percent, -7.0 percent, and 5.0 percent, respectively. On the contrary, slower annual increments were reported in the indices of Fish at 8.7 percent, Vegetables at -7.1 percent, and Meat at 2.6 percent.

The National Capital Region (NCR) had the lowest inflation at 1.2 percent among the 17 administrative regions in the Philippines while the highest inflation was reported in SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) at 3.6 percent (see Table 4). In Mindanao, Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) has the lowest inflation at 1.4 while SOCCSKSARGEN had the highest inflation (see Table 5)

Approved for released:

PEPITO D. AMOYEN

(Chief Statistical Specialist)

Officer-in-Charge

PSA Regional Statistical Services Office XI