Table 1. Year-on-Year Headline Inflation Rates, 
for the Bottom 30% Income Households, All Items 
In Percent
(2018=100)

Inflation in Sultan Kudarat Province

1. Overall Inflation

The overall inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the province of Sultan Kudarat slowed down to 2.6 percent in January 2024, compared to 5.4 percent reported in December 2023. (Table 1, Table 2 and Figure 1)

Figure 1: Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households in 
Sultan Kudarat Province, All Items
January 2023 to January 2024
(2018=100) 

Table 2. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for the 
Bottom 30% Income Households 
Sultan Kudarat Province, In Percent
January 2019 – January 2024
(2018=100)

1.1.     Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Inflation Rate of the Bottom 30% Income Households

The main source of the downward trend of inflation in the bottom 30% income households in the province for January 2024 was primarily brought about by the slower annual increase in the prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 6.1 percent compared to 10.5 percent reported in December 2023. This was followed by Transport at -1.7 percent deflation compared to 1.7 percent in December 2023, and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, at -17.5 percent deflation compared to -16.7 percent deflation reported in December 2023.

In addition, lower annual increases were noted in the indices of almost all commodity groups during the month:

a.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, at 8.6 percent form 9.5 percent;
b.    Clothing and Footwear, 5.2 percent from 5.6 percent;
c.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, at 4.7 percent from 5.3 percent;
d.    Health, at 3.8 percent from 4.3 percent;
e.    Recreation, Sport and Culture, at 8.5 percent from 9.5 percent;
f.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services, at 10.2 percent from 11.3 percent;
g.    Financial Services, at -0.4 percent from 0.0 percent; and
h.    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 3.5 percent from 4.0 percent.

Meanwhile, the indices of the following commodity groups retain their previous month inflation rate:

a.    Information and Communication at 0.5 percent,
b.    Education Services at 1.8 percent, (Table 3)

Table 3. Year-on-Year Inflation for the Bottom 30% Income Households 
by Commodity Groups, Sultan Kudarat Province in Percent
January 2023, December 2023, and January 2024
(2018=100)

1.2.   Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation

The following commodity groups were the top three contributors to the overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households during the month:

a.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages with 130.2 percent share or 3.39 percentage points.
b.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services with 25.6 percent share or 0.66 percentage point; and
c.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco with 10.1 percent share or 0.26 percentage point.
2.     Food Inflation

The food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the province decreased to 6.2 percent in January 2024 compared to 10.8 percent in December 2023. In January 2023, food inflation was higher at 9.3 percent.

2.1. Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Food Inflation of the Bottom 30% Income Households

The deceleration of food inflation for January 2024 was primarily brought about by the slower annual growth rate in the index of Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses at -22.8 percent deflation compared to -5.8 percent deflation in December 2023. This was followed by Cereals and Cereal Products at 23.6 percent compared to 24.8 percent in December 2023, and Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals at 0.0 percent compared to the 6.1 percent inflation reported in December 2023.

In addition, almost all food groups contributed to the downward trend of food inflation during the month.

a.   Fish and other seafood at –7.0 percent deflation from -5.7 percent deflation,
b.   Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 11.3 percent from 16.6 percent,
c.   Fruits and Nuts at 11.4 percent from 15.1 percent,
d.   Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts at 7.5 percent from 9.2 percent; and
e.  Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c.at 3.3 percent from 4.5 in December 2023. (Table 4)

In contrast, among the food groups, only the Oils and Fats showed a higher annual growth rate at -4.7 percent deflation compared to -5.2 percent deflation reported in December 2023.

Table 4. Year-on-Year Inflation on Food Items
for the Bottom 30% Income Households in Sultan Kudarat Province
In Percent
January 2023, December 2023, and January 2024
(2018=100)

2.2. Main Contributors to the Food Inflation of the Bottom 30% Income Households

The food groups with the highest contribution to food inflation during the month were the following:

a.  Cereals and cereal products with 119.7 percent share or 7.42 percentage points,
b.  Milk, other dairy products, and eggs with 5.8 percent share or 0.36 percentage point,
c.  Fruits and Nuts with 3.9 percent share or 0.24 percentage point.

Approved for Release:

HERLITA G. CARAAN

Chief Statistical Specialist

For inquiries, please contact:

MARIA ANNA LIZA S. MOGAN

Statistical Analyst

Provincial Focal Person