The headline inflation or overall inflation in Quezon increased to 4.1 percent in October 2024, from 3.3 percent in September 2024. This brings the average inflation rate of the province from January to October 2024 to 3.5 percent. In October 2023, inflation rate was lower at 2.1 percent.

The increase in the overall inflation in October 2024 was primarily influenced by the faster annual increment in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 6.9 percent during the month, from an annual increase of 5.0 percent in September 2024.

In addition, the following commodity groups also contributed to the upward movement during the month: 
a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 4.6 percent, from 4.5 percent; 
b. Health at 0.3 percent, from 0.1 percent; and 
c. Transport at 2.0 percent, from 0.7 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups registered lower inflation rates during the month: 
a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 3.6 percent, from 5.0 percent; 
b. Recreation, sport and culture at 0.4 percent, from 0.6 percent; and 
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 1.6 percent, from 2.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained it’s previous month’s annual rate: 
a. Clothing and footwear at 0.8 percent; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.7 percent; 
c. Information and communication at 0.4 percent; 
d. Education services at 3.0 percent; 
e. Restaurants and accommodation services at 0.9 percent; and 
f. Financial services at -0.1 percent.

Food inflation in the province rose to 7.4 percent in October 2024, from 5.2 percent in September 2024. In October 2023, food inflation was lower at 2.8 percent.

The acceleration of food inflation in October 2024 was primarily brought about by the increase in the index of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with  recorded inflation rate of -6.2 percent in October 2024, from -16.6 percent in the previous month.  

In addition, the following food groups registered faster year-on-year increases during the month: 
a. Corn at 43.9 percent, from 32.0 percent;  
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 5.8 percent, from 3.7 percent; 
c. Fish and other seafood at 8.5 percent, from 6.2 percent; 
d. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 8.1 percent, from 6.4 percent; 
e. Oils and fats at 6.9 percent, from -3.2 percent; and 
f. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, at -0.6 percent from -2.9 percent.

On the contrary, lower annual growth rates during the month were observed in the indices of the following food groups: 
a. Rice at 13.2 percent, from 13.8 percent; 
b. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 2.2 percent, from 2.9 percent; 
c. Fruits and nuts at 30.1 percent, from 31.4 percent; and 
d. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 1.1 percent, from 1.6 percent

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

NDP/IJCA/EAD