Summary Inflation Report 
Consumer Price Index for the Bottom 30% Income Households 
South Cotabato 
(2018=100)

MARCH 2024

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES

The inflation rate of South Cotabato’s bottom 30% income households decreased to 6.9 percent in March 2024 from 7.2 percent in February 2024. It was lower by 1.5 percentage points from the same month last year at 8.4 percent and 0.3 percentage points lower from February 2024 at 7.2 percent. It was higher compared to the regional and the national estimates of 5.1 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively (Figure 1).
 

The decline in the province’ inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in March 2024 were attributed to Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 2.5 percent; Clothing and Footwear at 2.4 percent; and Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 5.4 percent.

Lower increments were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups:
a.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, from 5.8% to 2.5%
b.    Clothing and Footwear, from 3.6% to 2.4%
c.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, from 11.9% to 11.8%
d.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance from 4.1% to 3.5%
e.    Health, from 1.1% to 1.0%
f.    Recreation, Sport and Culture, from 9.5% to 9.0%
g.    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Service, from 5.8% to 5.4%.

  The only major commodity groups which registered higher inflation were the following:

a.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, from 8.8% to 8.9%
b.    Transport, from -0.1% to 0.1%

The rest of the commodity groups: Information and Communication (0.0%), Education Services (5.8%), Restaurants and Accommodation Services (1.3%) and Financial Services (-0.1%) maintained their previous month’s inflation rates (Table 2).
 

The inflation rate in the bottom 30% income households of South Cotabato for the Food Group grew by 9.4 percent in March 2024 from 9.0 percent in February 2024. In March 2023, food inflation was at 8.0 percent (Table 3).

The top three food groups that contributed to the increase in food inflation were Cereals and cereal products, 25.9 percent; Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, -4.8 percent; and Fruits and nuts, 10.2 percent. 

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