The Davao Occidental headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households slightly increased to 7.8 percent in April 2024 from 7.7 percent in March 2024. In April 2023, the inflation rate was posted at 8.2 percent.  (Table A and Figure 1)

The main driver of the upward trend of the overall inflation for this income group in April 2024 was the faster year-on-year growth in the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 13.6 percent from 12.5 percent in the previous month. This was followed by transport, which posted a higher annual increase of 6.1 percent during the month from 4.0 percent in March 2024, and furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance index, which registered higher annual increase of 3.3 percent in April 2024 from 2.1 percent annual increase in the previous month. Also, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, recorded negative 10.5 percent percent inflation during the month from negative 10.7 percent inflation in March 2024.

In contrast, lower annual growth rates were noticed in the following commodity group; 
a. Restaurant accommodation services from 23.3 percent to 16.2 percent; 
b. Recreation, sport and culture from 8.6 percent to 5.3 percent; 
c. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco from 15.1 percent to 4.0 percent; 
d. Clothing and footwear from 3.5 percent to 2.8 percent; and 
e. Health from 2.3 percent to 1.7 percent.  

The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s 
annual rates. (Tables B)

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the provincial level moved faster pace of 14.1 percent in April 2024 from 12.8 percent in the previous month. In April 2023, its annual increase was observed at 8.8 percent.

The upward trend in the food inflation were contributed by the following food groups; 
a. Milk, other dairy products and eggs 
b. Fish and other seafood 
c. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. 
d. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses 
e. Oils and fats 
f. Sugar, confectionery and desserts

In contrast, compared with their previous month’s inflation rates, lower annual growth rate was observed in cereals and cereal products from 27.8 percent in March 2024 to 27.4 percent in April 2024.  

Meanwhile, meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals retained its inflation rate at negative 4.1 percent. 

Note: CPIs and inflation rates for the bottom 30% income households by region and province are posted at the PSA OpenSTAT portal at https://openstat.psa.gov.ph/PXWeb/pxweb/en/DB/DB__2M__PI__BIH__2018/?tablelist=true . 

APPROVED FOR RELEASE:

JESSIE A. MADULIN
Chief Statistical Specialist