The headline inflation or overall inflation in Lucena City increased to 3.3 percent in December 2024, from 3.0 percent in November 2024. This brings the average inflation rate of the city from January to December 2024 to 3.7 percent. In December 2023, inflation rate was lower at 2.6 percent.

The acceleration in the inflation rate of Lucena City was primarily influenced by the higher annual increase of the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 7.1 percent during the month, from 5.9 percent in November 2024.

Also contributing to the increase in the overall inflation were the higher annual increments in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:  

a. Transport at 3.5 percent, from 2.7 percent; and  
b. Restaurants and accommodation services at 2.4 percent, from 2.3 percent.  

In contrast, lower inflation rates were noted in the following commodity groups:  
a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 0.3 percent, from 2.1 percent;  
b. Clothing and footwear at 0.5 percent, from 0.9 percent;  
c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.5 percent, from 0.6 percent; and  
d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.7 percent, from 1.1 percent.

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

a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 1.3 percent;  
b. Health at 0.6 percent;  
c. Information and communication at 0.3 percent;  
d. Recreation, sport and culture at 0.2 percent;  
e. Education services at 2.2 percent; and  
f. Financial services at 0.0 percent.

Food inflation in Lucena City rose to 7.7 percent in December 2024, from 6.3 percent in November 2024. In December 2023, food inflation was lower at -0.5 percent.

The acceleration of food inflation in December 2024 was primarily brought about by the annual increment in the index of fish and other seafood at 5.5 percent, from an annual decrease of 0.5 percent in the previous month.

In addition, the following food groups registered faster annual increases during the month:  
a. Corn at 61.8 percent, from 47.1 percent;  
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 7.0 percent, from 6.4 percent; and  
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 14.3 percent, from 7.0 percent.

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

a. Rice at 11.1 percent, from 11.5 percent;  
b. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 0.4 percent, from 2.1 percent;  
c. Oils and fats at 3.4 percent, from 4.2 percent;  
d. Fruits and nuts at 15.9 percent, from 18.7 percent;  
e. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at 0.3 percent, from 0.4 percent; and  
f. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 3.6 percent, from 4.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the index of milk, other dairy products and eggs retained its previous month’s inflation at 7.3 percent.

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

NDP/EAD/CJMM