Summary Inflation Report 
Consumer Price Index for All Income Households 
South Cotabato 
(2018=100)

FEBRUARY 2024

Date of Release: 06 March 2024 
Reference No.: 2024PR – 1263 - 012

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES

The headline inflation or the annual rate of change on the prices of goods and services in the market basket of South Cotabato increased to 6.0 percent in February 2024. It was lower by 1.6 percentage points from the same month last year at 7.6 percent and 1.1 percentage points higher from January 2024 at 4.9 percent. South Cotabato’s inflation was higher compared to the regional and the national estimates of 5.0 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. The province average inflation stood at 5.4 percent (Figure 1).

The major contributors to the uptrend in the province’s inflation rate for the month of February 2024 were Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 7.4 percent, Transport at -0.1 percent, and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 12.8 percent.

Higher annual increments were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups:

a.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, from 5.2% to 7.4% 
b.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, from 6.4% to 6.5%
c.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, from 12.6% to 12.8%
d.    Health, from 1.8% to 2.4%
e.    Transport, from -2.3% to -0.1%
f.    Information and Communication, from 0.0% to 0.1%
g.    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, from 4.6% to 4.7%

Major commodity groups which registered lower inflation were the following:

a.    Clothing and Footwear, from 4.5% to 4.4%
b.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, from 3.6% to 3.4%
c.    Recreation, Sport and Culture, from 6.2% to 5.5%

The rest of the commodity groups: Education Services (4.7%), Restaurants and Accommodation Services (1.3%) and Financial Services (-0.1%) maintained their previous month’s inflation rates (Table 2). 
 

Meanwhile, inflation for food increased to 7.6 percent in February 2024 from 5.3 percent in January 2024. In February 2023, food inflation was higher at 8.7 percent (Table 3).
The top three food groups that contributed to the increase in food inflation were Fish and other seafood at 0.4%, Cereals and cereals products at 23.8%, and Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at -7.9%.
 

Approved for Release:

MA. EILEEN A. BERDEPRADO
Chief Statistical Specialist 
OIC- Provincial Statistics Officer
Philippine Statistics Authority - South Cotabato

For inquiries, please contact:

HAZELLE KAYE G. ABARO
Statistical Analyst
Philippine Statistics Authority - South Cotabato 
Telephone Number (083) 877-1905