The headline inflation or overall inflation in Quezon increased to 5.3 percent in June 2024, from 4.5 percent in May 2024. This brings the average inflation rate of the province for the first six months of the year to 2.9 percent. In June 2023, inflation rate was lower at 4.0 percent.

The upward movement in the overall inflation in June 2024 was primarily influenced by higher year-on-year increase in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 9.4 percent during the month, from an annual increase of 7.2 percent in May 2024.  

In contrast, among the 13 commodity groups, lower inflation rates were recorded on the following commodity groups during the month:
a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 1.7 percent, from 1.8 percent;
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 1.1 percent, from 1.2 percent; and
c. Transport at 5.3 percent, from 6.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation:
a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 7.1 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear at 1.0 percent;
c. Health at 0.3 percent; 
d. Information and communication at 0.3 percent;
e. Recreation, sport and culture at 3.5 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 9.9 percent in June 2024, from 7.5 percent in May 2024. In June 2023, food inflation was lower at 2.9 percent.

The acceleration in food inflation was mainly brought about by the faster year-on-year increase in the index of rice at 26.8 percent in June 2024, from 26.1 percent in the previous month. The index of corn also contributed to the upward movement with an inflation rate of 33.2 percent during the month, from 29.4 percent in May 2024.

Likewise, higher inflation rates on the following food groups also contributed to the increase of food inflation during the month:
a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 2.2 percent, from -0.4 percent;
b. Fish and other seafood at 11.3 percent, from 6.2 percent;
c. Oils and fats at -5.8 percent, from -6.4 percent;
d. Fruits and nuts at 5.2 percent, from 3.1 percent;
e. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 11.8 percent, from 2.3 percent; and 
f. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at -2.8 percent, from -3.1 percent.

In contrast, the inflation of the following food groups decreased during the month:
a. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 3.2 percent, from 3.3 percent; 
b. Milk, other dairy products, and eggs at 0.4 percent, from 0.6 percent; and
c. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 2.7 percent, from 2.9 percent.

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

NDP/IJCA/EAD