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 percent income households at the national level increased further to 5.9 percent in July 2022, the highest since December 2018. This brings the national average inflation rate from January to July 2022 at 4.0 percent. In June 2022, inflation was observed at 5.0 percent and in July 2021, 4.4 percent. (Tables A and B, and Figure 1)

The uptrend was primarily due to the higher annual growth in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 5.9 percent, from 5.0 percent in the previous month. In addition, contributing to the higher inflation was the transport index with 10.0 percent annual increment, from 6.8 percent in June 2022.

Moreover, annual increases were higher in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 8.5 percent;
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, 6.8 percent;
c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 3.8 percent;
d. Health, 2.4 percent;
e. Communication, 0.5 percent;
f. Recreation and culture, 2.5 percent; and
g. Restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.9 percent.

The clothing and footwear and education indices retained their respective previous month’s annual growth rates. (Tables 3 and 4)

Similarly, food inflation at the national level increased to 6.1 percent in July 2022, from 5.1 percent in June 2022. In July 2021, its annual rate was recorded at 4.2 percent. (Table 7)

The higher inflation for food in July 2022 was mainly brought about by the higher annual growth in the sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery index at 26.7 percent, from 15.5 percent in June 2022. The index for fish and seafood also recorded a faster annual increment of 8.4 percent in July 2022, from 6.5 percent in the previous month.

In addition, faster annual increases were seen in the indices of the following food groups during the month:

a. Rice, 0.8 percent;
b. Other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery products, 5.5 percent;
c. Meat, 10.5 percent;
d. Milk, cheese and eggs, 5.1 percent;
e. Oils and fats, 15.3 percent;
f. Fruits, 6.4 percent; and
g. Food products not elsewhere classified, 3.2 percent.

In contrast, annual increases were lower in the indices of corn at 7.1 percent, and vegetables at 8.8 percent. (Table 5)

2. National Capital Region (NCR)

Inflation in NCR remained at 5.1 percent in July 2022. In July 2021, inflation in the area was posted at 4.3 percent. (Tables A and 3)

Mixed movements in the annual growth rates of the indices of the commodity groups in the area were observed during the month. Higher annual increments were seen in the indices of the following commodity groups:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 6.5 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, 1.3 percent;
c. Transport, 11.8 percent; and
d. Restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.9 percent.

Meanwhile, inflation rates were lower in the indices of housing, water, electricty, gas and other fuels at 3.2 percent; health at 1.7 percent; and recreation and culture at 0.3 percent.

The indices of furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance; and communication retained their previous month’s annual rates of 1.7 and 0.7 percent, respectively, while education index registered zero percent annual growth during the month. (Tables 3 and 4)

3. Areas Outside NCR (AONCR)

Similar to the trend at the national level, inflation in AONCR accelerated to 6.0 percent in July 2022, from 5.0 percent in June 2022. In July 2021, inflation in AONCR was recorded at 4.4 percent. (Tables A and 3)

The uptrend was primarily brought about by the higher annual increase in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 5.9 percent during the month, from 4.9 percent in June 2022.

Higher annual upticks during the month were also noted in the indices of the following commodity groups:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 8.5 percent;
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, 7.0 percent;
c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 3.9 percent;
d. Health, 2.4 percent;
e. Transport, 9.9 percent;
f. Communication, 0.4 percent;
g. Recreation and culture, 2.5 percent; and
h. Restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.0 percent.

On the other hand, the indices for clothing and footwear and education retained their previous month’s rates. (Tables 3 and 4)

Compared with their respective previous month’s rates, 14 regions in AONCR posted higher inflation in July 2022. The highest inflation was observed in Region VII (Central Visayas) at 8.0 percent, while the lowest remained in Region II (Cagayan Valley) at 4.0 percent. (Table 4)

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.