The headline inflation or overall inflation in Quezon further increased to 4.5 percent in April 2024, from 2.3 percent in March 2024. This brings the average inflation rate of the province for the first four months of the year to 1.8 percent. In April 2023, inflation rate was higher at 5.4 percent.   

The continued upward movement in the overall inflation in April 2024 was primarily influenced by higher year-on-year increase in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 8.1 percent during the month, from 3.9 percent in March 2024. The annual increase in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 0.6 percent during the month, from 2.9 percent annual decline in the previous month also contributed to the uptrend of the overall inflation.  

In addition, higher inflation rates were also noted in clothing and footwear at 1.1 percent during the month, from 0.8 percent March 2024; and transport at 5.1 percent in April 2024, from 4.2 percent in the previous month.

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 7.1 percent;  
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 1.2 percent;  
c. Health at 0.3 percent;   
d. Information and communication at 0.3 percent;  
e. Recreation, sport and culture at 3.7 percent;  
f. Education services at 5.8 percent;  
g. Restaurants and accommodation services at 2.8 percent;  
h. Financial services at -0.1 percent; and  
i. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.4 percent.

Food inflation in the province rose to 8.5 percent in April 2024, from 4.0 percent in March 2024. In April 2023, food inflation was higher at 3.7 percent.

The acceleration in food inflation was mainly brought about by the annual increase in the index of fish and other seafood at 9.7 percent in April 2024, from annual decline of 4.1 percent in the previous month. It was followed by the higher year-on-year increase in the index of rice at 23.5 percent during the month, from 16.6 percent in March 2024.

Likewise, higher inflation rates on the following food groups also contributed to the increase of food inflation during the month:

a. Corn at 29.4 percent, from 6.0 percent; and  
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 14.5 percent, from 1.3 percent.

In contrast, the inflation of the following food groups decreased during the month:

a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 0.2 percent, from 3.7 percent;  
b. Fruits and nuts at 6.9 percent, from 7.1 percent; and  
c. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 3.2 percent, from 3.4 percent.

Meanwhile, the following food groups retained its previous month’s inflation:

a. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 3.6 percent;   
b. Milk, other dairy products, and eggs at -2.3 percent;  
c. Oils and fats at -7.6 percent; and  
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at -3.2 percent.

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

NDP/IJCA/EAD