The Davao Occidental headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households declined further to negative 0.7 percent in December 2024 from 1.9 percent in November 2024. In December 2023, the inflation rate was higher at 4.7 percent.(Table A and Figure 1)

The drivers of the downward trend of the overall inflation for this income group in December 2024 was the slower year-on-year growth of the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and food and non-alcoholic beverages from 15.1 percent and negative 1.5 percent in November 2024 to 1.4 percent and negative 3.5 percent respectively.

In contrast, higher annual growth rates were noticed in the following commodity groups;
a. Restaurant and accommodation services, from 21.3 percent to 24.1 percent;
b. Recreation, sport and culture, from 12.9 percent to 13.2 percent;
c. Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance, from 5.7 percent to 7.2 percent;
d. Clothing and footwear, from 3.7 percent to 4.5 percent;
a. Health, from 2.3 percent to 2.4 percent.
b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, from 1.0 percent to 1.4 percent; and
c. Transport, from negative 2.5 percent to negative 0.7 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 declined further to negative 4.1 percent in December 2024 from negative 1.8 percent in the previous month. In December 2023, the inflation rate was higher at 9.2 percent.

The deceleration of food inflation in December 2024 of this income group were contributed by the lower inflation of rice and corn with negative 10.2 percent and negative 22.7 percent from negative 7.2 percent and negative 8.0 percent in November 2024 respectively. Fish and other seafood also declined to 5.4 percent in December 2024 from 8.4 percent in November 2024.

In contrast, compared with their previous month’s inflation rates, higher annual growth rate was observed in the following commodity groups;
a. Oils and fats from 47.0 percent to 61.5 percent;
b. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. from 11.3 percent to 11.6 percent;
c. Milk, other dairy products and eggs from 4.2 percent to 4.9 percent;
d. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals from 0.9 percent to 2.7 percent;
e. Sugar, confectionery and desserts from negative 17.6 percent to negative 14.9 percent; and
f. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses from negative 10.1 percent to negative 8.9 percent. (Table C)

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