The headline inflation or overall inflation in Quezon increased to 4.6 percent in December 2024, from 3.6 percent in November 2024. This brings the average inflation rate of the province from January to December 2024 to 3.6 percent. In December 2023, inflation rate was lower at 1.5 percent.

The increase in the overall inflation in December 2024 was primarily influenced by the faster annual increment in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 2.3 percent during the month, from an annual decrease of 0.7 percent in November 2024.

Moreover, the following commodity groups also contributed to the upward movement during the month: 
a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 9.4 percent, from 8.1 percent; and 
b. Transport at 3.1 percent, from 2.1 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups registered lower inflation rates during the month: 
a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 0.6 percent, from 2.5 percent; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.6 percent, from 0.7 percent; and 
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.7 percent, from 1.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained its previous month’s inflation: 
a. Clothing and footwear at 0.8 percent; 
b. Health at 0.6 percent; 
c. Information and communication at 0.4 percent; 
d. Recreation, sport and culture at 0.4 percent; 
e. Education services at 3.0 percent; 
f. ;Restaurants and accommodation services at 0.9 percent; and 
g. Financial services at -0.1 percent.

Food inflation in the province rose to 10.1 percent in December 2024, from 8.7 percent in November 2024. In December 2023, food inflation was lower at 0.4 percent.

The acceleration of food inflation in December 2024 was primarily brought about by the higher year-on-year index of fish and other seafood of 16.3 percent, from an annual increase of 8.1 percent in the previous month.

In addition, the following food groups registered faster annual growth rates during the month:

a. Corn at 57.9 percent, from 51.0 percent; 
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 8.5 percent, from 5.9 percent; 
c. Oils and fats of 8.2 percent from 6.9 percent; and 
d. Fruits and nuts at 20.3 percent, from 20.2 percent.

On the contrary, lower annual growth rates during the month were observed in the indices of the following food groups:

a. Rice at 11.9 percent, from 13.3 percent; and 
b. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 0.6 percent, from 2.1 percent; 
c. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 9.2 percent, from 9.5 percent; 
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at 0.4 percent, from 0.6 percent; and 
e. Ready-made foods and other food products not elsewhere classified at 0.2 percent, from 0.8 percent.

Meanwhile, vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 10.1 percent.

(SGD.) AIRENE A. PUCYUTAN 
Provincial Statistics Officer 
PSA Quezon

NDP/EAD/CJMM