A. National

The country’s PPI for agriculture decelerated in the first quarter of 2022

The Philippine’s annual growth rate of Producer Price Index (PPI) for agriculture slowed down further to 4.7 percent in the first quarter of 2022, from 7.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021. In the first quarter of 2021, annual increment was higher at 8.5 percent. (Figure 1, Tables 6 and 7)

Slower annual increases were also noted in the PPIs for crops, and livestock and poultry during the quarter. (Table 6)

The lowest annual growth rate of PPI for agriculture among the regions in areas outside the National Capital Region (AONCR) in the first quarter of 2022 was registered in CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) at -30.6 percent, while the highest annual growth rate of 15.6 percent was noted in Region VII (Central Visayas). (Table 7)

B. Major Commodity Group

1. PPI annual growth rate for crops eased in the first quarter of 2022

The Philippines’ annual growth rate of PPI for crops decreased further to 5.6 percent during the first quarter of 2022, from 6.5 percent in the previous quarter. In the first quarter of the previous year, it was observed at 3.1 percent. (Figure 2, Tables 6 and 8)

Lower annual increase was registered in the index of cereals at 7.9 percent, from 11.6 percent in the previous quarter. Moreover, annual declines were posted in the indices of the following commodity groups:

a. root crops, -19.0 percent; 
b. beans and legumes, -2.8 percent; 
c. condiments, -34.2 percent; 
d. fruit vegetables, -23.1 percent; 
e. leafy vegetables, -57.7 percent; and 
f. fruits, -12.3 percent.

On the contrary, annual increment was higher in the index of commercial crops at 12.6 percent, from 11.4 percent in the previous quarter. (Tables 6 and 11)

2.  PPI for livestock and poultry continued to drop in the first quarter of 2022

The annual increase of PPI for livestock and poultry in the country decreased further to 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2022, from an annual growth rate of 13.1 percent in the previous quarter. In the same quarter of 2021, it was posted at 44.9 percent. (Figure 3, Tables 6 and 9)

Lower annual hikes during the quarter were recorded in the indices of livestock at 6.7 percent; and poultry, 2.9 percent. (Tables 6 and 12)

3. PPI for fishery declined during the first quarter of 2022

The PPI for fishery at the national level went down by -1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2022 after recording an annual increment of 3.8 percent in the previous quarter. Its annual change was recorded the same rate of -1.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021. (Figure 4, Tables 6 and 10)

The index of aquaculture fishery posted an annual decline of -8.0 percent, from an annual growth of 1.9 percent in the previous quarter. In addition, the index of commercial fishery slowed down to 0.7 percent from an annual growth rate of 9.0 percent in the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, annual uptick of 4.6 percent was observed in the index of inland municipal fishery during the quarter, from an annual decrement of -4.4 percent in the previous quarter. Moreover, the index of marine municipal fishery rose by 5.2 percent, from an annual growth rate of 4.0 percent in the previous quarter. (Tables 6 and 13)