The Consumer Price Index (CPI) For All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region in September 2021 was recorded at 135.1 index points. This shows that the average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review was higher by 35.1 percent higher compared to its prices in its 2012 reference base year. The September 2020 CPI for All Items at 128.2 was lower by 6.9 index points compared to its September 2021 index point.

The number of registered live births in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region in 2020 reached 72,847, lower by 7.17 percent from 78,477 in 2019. Generally, the registered live births showed decreasing trend from 2016 to 2020 but a little bit swing in 2019. A decrease of 7.69 percent in the registered live births was noted in the past five years, from 78, 919 in 2016 to 72,847 in 2020 ( see Figure 1). The number of registered births with the highest decreased in the province of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani at about 10.14 percent and 9.37 percent in 2020, respectively (see Table 2). The highest number as registered in 2013 at 80,983.

INDEX POINTS The CPI for All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased by 135.4 index points in October 2021 from 128.3 index points in September 2021. This average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review was higher by 35.4 percent compared to its prices in its 2012 reference base year (Figure 1).

Total external trade up SOCCSKSARGEN Region’s total external trade in goods in March 2021 amounted to USD 208.578 million from USD 158.341 million in March 2020 posting a growth of 31.7 percent. Of the total external trade in March 2021, about 63.2 percent were exported goods.

INDEX POINTS The CPI for All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased by 7.2 index points in November 2021 from 128.7 index points in November 2020. The average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review increased by 35.9 percent from the 2012-based year.

Working children and child labor situation in SOCCSKSARGEN Region based on the final results of October 2019 and October 2020.

The CPI for All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased by 6.8 index point in December 2021 from 129.7 index points in December 2020. The average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review increased by 36.5 percent from the 2012- based year.

Employment Situation in SOCCSKSARGEN Region based in the preliminary results of October 2021 Round Labor Force Survey (LFS).

In July 2021, Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households decreased by 5.3% from 5.5% in June 2021. Sustaining a double digit figure at 32.0%, Transport recorded the highest inflation rate from 35.6% in the previous month along with Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 13.1%. Maintaining their previous month’s figures were Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (3.2%) and Education (0.3%) while faster price upticks were recorded in Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House (from 1.0% to 1.7%), and Recreation and Culture (from 0.6% to 1.8%).

In September 2021, Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households went down to 6.5% from 6.7% in August 2021. Transport posted the highest inflation rate at a double digit record of 15.3% among the commodity groups along with Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 14.7%.