1. Philippines

Inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the national level slowed down to 5.0 percent in September 2021, from 5.3 percent in August 2021. In September 2020, it was posted at 2.8 percent.

The country’s average inflation for this particular group of consumers from January to September 2021 was registered at 4.9 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

The downtrend in the inflation for the bottom 30% income households during the month was primarily due to the slower annual increase of the transport index at 4.0 percent, from its double-digit annual growth rate of 10.4 percent in August 2021.

Lower annual increments were also observed in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 5.4 percent;
b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 10.9 percent;
c. Education, 1.3 percent; and
d. Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.8 percent.

The indices of other commodity groups exhibited, however, higher inflation during the month, except for clothing and footwear index, which retained its previous month’s annual rate of 2.7 percent. (Tables 3 and 4)

Meanwhile, the food index for the bottom 30% income households at the national level retained its previous month’s annual rate of 5.8 percent in September 2021. In the same month in 2020, its inflation was observed at 1.1 percent. (Table 7)

Annual upticks were higher in the indices of the following food groups during the period:

a. Other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta, and other bakery products, 1.9 percent;
b. Oils and fats, 6.3 percent;
c. Vegetables, 17.0 percent; and
d. Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate, and confectionery, 1.7 percent.

Moreover, the index of food products not elsewhere classified registered an annual increase of 0.1 percent, after exhibiting an annual drop of -0.7 percent in the previous month.

The annual decline in the index of rice at -0.3 percent during the month was also lower relative to its previous month’s annual decrease of -0.5 percent.

On the other hand, the indices of the rest of the food groups had lower inflation during the month. (Table 5)

_{Source: Survey of Retail Prices of Commodities for Consumer Price Index, Philippine Statistics Authority}

2. National Capital Region (NCR)

Similarly, inflation of consumer items for the bottom 30% income households in NCR decelerated to 4.2 percent in September 2021, from 5.1 percent in August 2021. Inflation for this particular group of consumers in the region in September 2020 was noted at 2.8 percent. (Tables A and 3)

Annual increments slowed down in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 5.8 percent;
b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 13.2 percent;
c. Furnishing, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house, 0.6 percent;
d. Education, 0.4 percent; and
e. Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.9 percent

On the contrary, annual hikes were higher in the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 2.3 percent; transport, 0.9 percent; and communication, 0.6 percent.

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

3. Areas Outside NCR (AONCR)

Following the same trend as in the national level and in NCR, inflation for the bottom 30% income households in AONCR slid to 5.1 percent in September 2021. Inflation for this particular group of consumers was higher at 5.3 percent in August 2021, while it was posted at 2.8 percent in September 2020. (Tables A and 3)

Lower annual hike of the transport index at 4.1 percent in September 2021, from a double-digit annual growth of 10.4 percent in August 2021 primarily pushed down the inflation for this income group of consumers in AONCR during the month.

Annual upticks also decelerated in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 10.9 percent; and education,1.3 percent.

Meanwhile, inflation were higher in the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 3.5 percent; furnishing, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house, 1.9 percent; and recreation and culture, 1.9 percent.

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

Among the regions outside NCR, inflation for the bottom 30% income households were slower in 11 regions in September 2021. The lowest inflation remained in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) at 2.2 percent; while the highest inflation was noted in Region II (Cagayan Valley) at 6.8 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/).

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