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

1. Philippines

Inflation in the Philippines for the bottom 30% income households accelerated further to 4.3 percent in May 2022, from 3.8 percent in April 2022. Inflation in May 2021 was higher at 4.5 percent. The average inflation for this income group of consumers from January 2022 to May 2022 stood at 3.5 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

The higher inflation in the country for the bottom 30% income households was mainly due to the increase in the inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.1 percent, from 3.6 percent in April 2022.

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

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 7.0 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, 2.3 percent;
c. Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 3.0 percent;
d. Transport, 5.2 percent; and
e. Recreation and culture, 2.2 percent.

Meanwhile, inflation slowed down in the indices of health at 2.3 percent and restaurants and miscellaneous goods services at 3.1 percent. The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates. (Tables 3 and 4)

Inflation for food at the national level rose to 4.1 percent in May 2022, from 3.7 percent in April 2022. In May 2021, food inflation was observed at 3.6 percent. (Table 7)

Double-digit annual increments were recorded in the indices of vegetables at 10.8 percent; and sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery at 12.4 percent. In addition, higher annual growth rates were seen in the following food groups during the month:

a. Rice, 0.4 percent;
b. Other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery products, 3.6 percent;
c. Meat, 6.9 percent;
d. Fish, 5.2 percent;
e. Milk, cheese and eggs, 2.3 percent;
f. Oils and fats, 9.8 percent; and
g. Fruits, 2.8 percent.

On the other hand, annual hikes slowed down in the indices of corn at 6.7 percent; and food products not elsewhere classified at 1.5 percent. (Table 5)

2. National Capital Region (NCR)

Inflation in NCR was still on an upward trend as it rose further to 4.1 percent in May 2022, from 3.5 percent in April 2022. In May 2021, inflation in the area was recorded at 4.4 percent. (Tables A and 3)

The higher inflation in the region was influenced mainly by the higher annual growth of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.9 percent, from 3.4 percent in the previous month.

Contributing also to the uptrend were the higher annual increments posted in the indices of the following commodity groups:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 8.0 percent;
b. Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.2 percent;
c. Health, 1.8 percent; and
d. Transport, 3.9 percent.

On the other hand, slower annual growths were noted in the following commodity groups:

a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 4.3 percent;
b. Communication, 0.9 percent;
c. Recreation and culture, 0.3 percent; and
d. Restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.5 percent.

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

3. Areas Outside NCR (AONCR)

Similar with the trend at the national level and in NCR, inflation in AONCR for the bottom 30% income households increased to 4.3 in May 2022, from 3.9 in April 2022. Inflation was higher in May 2021 at 4.5 percent. (Tables A and 3)

The uptrend in the inflation in AONCR for this particular group of consumers was primarily brought about by the higher annual growth of food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 4.1 percent in May 2022, from 3.6 percent in the previous month.

The following commodity groups also exhibited higher inflation rates during the month:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 7.0 percent;
b. Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 3.1 percent;
c. Transport, 5.3 percent; and
d. Recreation and culture, 2.2 percent.

On the contrary, annual increase was slower in the index of health at 2.3 percent. Meanwhile, the rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s rates. (Tables 3 and 4)

Twelve (12) regions in AONCR posted higher inflation in May 2022. The highest growth was still observed in Region III (Central Luzon) at 6.1 percent, while the lowest was in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at 2.4 percent. (Table 4)

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

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

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