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Release Date :
Reference Number :
2018-118

FIRST QUARTER 2018

YEAR-ON-YEAR

Philippines

2012 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries

The country’s year-on-year inflation for the bottom 30% income households went up by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2018. This was higher than the 3.4 percent annual growth in the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2.8 percent in the first quarter of the previous year. The indices of all the commodity groups posted higher annual growths during the quarter, except for fuel, light and water (FLW) index which decelerated to 6.1 percent. The annual growth rates for the other commodity groups are as follows (see Tables 7 and 12):

  • Food, beverages and tobacco (FBT) (5.9%);
  • Clothing (1.9%);
  • Housing and repairs (H&R) (3.7%);
  • Services (1.9%); and
  • Miscellaneous (1.5%)

The annual increment of the food alone index at the national level picked up by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2018. Its annual rate was recorded at 3.4 percent in the previous quarter and 2.7 percent during the same period in 2017 (see Table 17).

The fish index showed a double-digit annual mark-up at 11.5 percent. All other food groups likewise exhibited higher annual gains during the quarter (see Tables 15 and 19).

Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in the Philippines, All Items
1st Quarter 2009 - 1th Quarter 2018

Quarter

Year

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
1st 12.3 4.2 4.6 2.7 3.5 5.7 3.1 1.1 2.8 5.3
2nd 5.5 3.5 5.4 2.4 3.1 6.5 2.1 1.2 2.7
3rd 0.2 3.7 5.2 3.1 3.5 6.8 0.4 1.4 3.0
4th 3.4 3.1 5.2 3.0 4.8 5.1 0.8 2.0 3.5
Average 5.4 3.6 5.1 2.9 3.7 6.0 1.6 1.4 3.0

National Capital Region (NCR)

The annual growth of prices for this particular group of consumers in NCR accelerated by 5.9 percent in the first quarter of 2018. In the previous quarter, inflation settled to 4.7 percent, while in the first quarter of 2017, it was observed at 5.4 percent. Compared to the annual growths in the previous quarter, faster annual increments were noted in the indices of FBT at 6.1 percent; clothing, 1.8 percent; and H&R, 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2018. Meanwhile, lower annual hikes were posted in the indices of FLW at 9.5 percent; services, 1.9 percent and miscellaneous, 3.3 percent than their annual growths in the previous quarter (see Tables 8 and 12).

A higher annual increase of 5.4 percent was registered in the food alone index in the area during the first quarter of 2018. Its annual rate in the previous quarter was pegged at 3.9 percent. In the first quarter of 2017, food alone index increased at an annual rate of 5.5 percent in NCR (see Table 17).

Relative to the annual growth in the previous quarter, higher annual upticks in the indices of the following food groups were recorded during the first quarter of 2018 (see Tables 8 and 12):

  • Rice (0.6%);
  • Corn (3.0%);
  • Fish (12.7%);
  • Fruits and vegetables (4.4%); and
  • Miscellaneous foods (8.6%)

On the other hand, slower annual rates were noticed in the indices of cereal preparations at 2.6 percent; dairy products, 4.3 percent; and meat, 6.2 percent. Moreover, the index of eggs continued to exhibit a negative rate at -3.0 percent this quarter (see Tables 15 and 20).

Areas Outside NCR (AONCR)

Annual inflation in AONCR for the bottom 30% income households picked up by 5.3 percent during the first quarter of 2018. In the previous quarter, the annual growth was posted at 3.4 percent and in the first quarter of 2017, 2.7 percent. All the commodity groups registered higher annual rates during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to their annual growths in the previous quarter, except for FLW index which had a slower annual increase of 6.1 percent. Rates of annual increase in the indices of other commodity groups are as follows (see Tables 9 and 12):

  • FBT (5.9%);
  • Clothing (1.9%);
  • H&R (3.8%);
  • Services (1.9%); and
  • Miscellaneous (1.4%)

In the first quarter of 2018, higher annual add-ons were observed in all regions than in the previous quarter. The highest annual growth was posted in Region XI (Davao Region) at 6.8 percent, while the lowest remained in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) at 2.5 percent (see Tables 9 and 12).

Annual movement in the food alone index in AONCR rose by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2018. In the previous quarter, the index picked up by 3.4 percent and in the first quarter of 2017, 2.7 percent (see Table 17).

All the food groups registered higher annual rates during the quarter (see Table 15).

QUARTER-ON-QUARTER

2012 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries

On a quarterly basis, prices of items for the bottom 30% income households at the national level went up by 2.8 percent during the first quarter of 2018. Increase of prices in the previous quarter settled to a lower rate of 1.3 percent. Relative to the previous quarter, higher growths were noted in the indices of FBT at 3.2 percent; clothing, 0.7 percent; H&R, 1.8 percent; and services, 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2018. The index of FLW, however, registered a slower increase of 2.8 percent, while the index of miscellaneous retained its previous quarter’s growth of 0.4 percent (see Tables 4 and 11).

In NCR, prices of consumer items in the bottom 30% income households accelerated by 2.4 percent during the first quarter of 2018. This was higher than its rate of 2.1 percent in the previous quarter. The uptrend was brought about by the higher increments posted in the indices of FBT at 2.5 percent; clothing, 0.5 percent; services, 0.4 percent; and miscellaneous, 0.8 percent. However, the FLW index moved up by 4.2 percent, while the H&R index retained its previous quarter’s rate of 0.2 percent (see Tables 5 and 11).

Likewise, consumer prices in AONCR for this income category went up by 2.8 percent in the first quarter of 2018. In the previous quarter, its growth was posted at 1.3 percent. Increases were higher in the indices of FBT at 3.2 percent; clothing, 0.7 percent; H&R, 1.8 percent; and services, 0.4 percent. On the other hand, a lower quarterly add-on of 2.7 percent was seen in the FLW index during the quarter. Movement in the miscellaneous index remained at 0.4 percent (see Tables 6 and 11).

Higher price increases were posted in 13 regions, with Western Visayas recording the highest rate of 4.0 percent and ARMM registering the lowest at 1.4 percent (see Table 11).

For most of the regions, price movements of heavily-weighted food items such as rice, eggs, fish, vegetables and seasonings were higher during the first quarter of 2018 than in the previous quarter. Higher excise taxes on selected sweetened beverages led upward prices of these items in most of the regions. Price gains in kerosene and cigarettes also contributed to the uptrend. On the other hand, lower charges in electricity rates were observed in many regions including NCR during the quarter.

Note:

1. Monthly CPIs for the bottom 30% income households by province selected cities are also available upon request at PSA, Price Statistics Division (Telephone Number: 376-1959)
2. Prices of commodities in Marawi City were excluded in the computation of the CPI for the bottom 30% income households from January 2016 to March 2018.

See more at the Consumer Price Index for Bottom 30% Income Households landing page.

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