Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for the
Bottom 30% Income Households, All Items
In Percent
(2012=100)

1. Philippines

Inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the national level further increased to 7.9 percent in December 2022, from 7.7 percent in November 2022. It was registered at 3.3 percent in December 2021.

The uptrend of inflation for December 2022 was mainly due to the higher annual increase in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 8.4 percent, from 8.2 percent in November 2022. This was followed by restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services index which recorded a 6.2 percent year-on-year increment in December 2022, from 6.0 percent in November 2022. Clothing and footwear, with an inflation rate of 3.9 percent in December 2022 from 3.6 percent in the previous month, was also contributory to the higher inflation during the period.

Other commodity groups with higher inflation during the month were the following:

          a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 10.3 percent;
          b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 6.4 percent;
          c. Health, 3.1 percent; and
          d. Recreation and culture, 4.9 percent.

On the contrary, annual upticks were lower in the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 7.8 percent; and transport at 9.5 percent. The indices of communication and education retained their respective previous month’s annual growth rates. (Tables 3 and 4)

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the national level increased further to 8.6 percent in December 2022, from 8.5 percent in November 2022.  In December 2021, inflation for food was recorded at 3.1 percent. (Table 7)

The uptrend in the December 2022 food inflation was primarily driven by the higher annual mark-up in the vegetables index at 19.1 percent, from 14.8 percent in November 2022.

Moreover, annual hikes were higher during the month in the indices of the following food groups:

          a. Rice, 2.1 percent;
          b. Corn, 13.0 percent;
          c. Other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery products, 8.5 percent;
          d. Milk, cheese and eggs, 9.1 percent;
          e. Fruits, 6.6 percent;
          f.  Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery, 61.2 percent; and
          g. Food products, not elsewhere classified, 7.2 percent.

In contrast, annual increments were lower in the indices of meat at 8.6 percent; and fish and seafood at 5.4 percent. The index of oils and fats, retained its previous month’s annual rate of 17.8 percent. (Table 5)

The Philippines’ average inflation in this income group of consumers for the year 2022 went up to 5.3 percent, from 4.8 percent in 2021. (Tables A, B, and 9, and Figure 1)

By commodity group, the following posted higher average inflation rates in 2022 relative to their average annual growth rates in 2021:

          a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 5.3 percent;
          b. Clothing and footwear, 2.7 percent;
          c. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 6.4 percent;
          d. Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 4.0 percent;
          e. Communication, 0.4 percent;
          f.  Recreation and culture, 2.9 percent;
          g. Education, 3.8 percent; and
          h. Restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.2 percent.

Meanwhile, lower annual average inflation rates were observed in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 7.8 percent; health, 2.7 percent; and transport, 7.1 percent. (Tables 3 and 4a)

 

2. National Capital Region (NCR)

Inflation of consumer items for the bottom 30% income households in NCR remained at downward trend as it eased further to 8.9 percent in December 2022, from 9.0 percent in November 2022. In December 2021, inflation in the region was recorded at 1.1 percent. (Tables A, 3, and 10)

The index of food and non-alcoholic beverages primarily pulled down the inflation in NCR in December 2022 of 10.3 percent inflation, from 10.4 percent inflation in November 2022.

In addition, annual hikes were lower in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

          a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 8.1 percent;
          b. Transport, 18.3 percent;
          c. Communication, 0.2 percent; and
          d. Recreation and culture, 1.9 percent.

On the contrary, annual upticks were higher in the indices of clothing and footwear at 2.4 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance; 4.8 percent; and health, 2.1 percent.

The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s growth rates. (Tables 3 and 4)

The annual average inflation for this income group in NCR increased to 5.3 percent in 2022, from 4.2 percent in 2021. (Tables 3, 4A, and 10)


3. Areas Outside NCR (AONCR)

Similar to the trend at the national level, inflation for this particular group of consumers in AONCR was higher at 7.9 percent in December 2022, from 7.7 percent in November 2022. In December 2021, inflation stood at 3.4 percent. (Tables A, 3 and 11)

The uptrend was primarily driven by the higher annual growth rate in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 8.3 percent in December 2022, from 8.1 percent in November 2022.  Year-on-year increments were also higher in the indices of the following commodity groups in during the month:

          a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 10.4  percent;
          b. Clothing and footwear, 3.9 percent;
          c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 6.5 percent;
          d. Health, 3.1 percent;
          e. Recreation and culture, 5.0 percent; and
          f.  Restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services, 5.9 percent.

Meanwhile, annual uptick was lower in transport index at 9.3 percent. The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s rates. (Tables 3 and 4)

Ten (10) regions in AONCR posted higher inflation for the bottom 30% income households in December 2022. The highest inflation among the regions outside NCR was observed in Region VII (Central Visayas) at 10.9 percent, while the lowest inflation was seen in Region XIII (Caraga) at 6.0 percent. (Table 4)

The annual average inflation for this income group in AONCR, likewise, increased to 5.4 percent in 2022, from 4.8 percent in 2021. (Tables 3, 4A, and 11)

Compared with their annual average rates in 2021, 11 regions in AONCR exhibited higher annual average inflation in 2022. Region VII (Central Visayas) had the highest annual average inflation during the year at 7.0 percent. Meanwhile, Region II (Cagayan Valley) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) both registered the lowest annual average inflation of 4.1 percent. (Table 4a)

Note: CPIs and inflation rates for the bottom 30% income households by region are posted at the PSA website (http://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General
 

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