The headline inflation or overall inflation in Lucena City slowed down further to 3.5 percent in September 2024, from 4.7 percent in August 2024. This brings the average inflation rate of the city from January to September 2024 to 3.7 percent. In August 2023, inflation rate was higher at 4.0 percent.

The downtrend in the overall inflation in August 2024 was primarily brought about by the slower annual increment in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 7.2 percent during the month, from an annual increase of 11.9 percent in August 2024.

Lower annual increments were also noted in the indices of the following commodity group during the month:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.7 percent, from 3.9 percent; 
b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 4.2 percent, from 4.6 percent; 
c. Transport at 1.4 percent, from 3.3 percent; and 
d. Restaurants and accommodation services at 2.4 percent, from 3.3 percent.

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

a. Clothing and footwear at 0.9 percent; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.7 percent; 
c. Health at -0.4 percent; 
d. Information and communication at 0.3 percent;  
e. Recreation, sport and culture at 0.6 percent; 
f. Education services at 2.2 percent; 
g. Financial services at 0.0 percent; and 
h. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 3.7 percent.

Food inflation in Lucena City eased to 3.9 percent in September 2024, from 4.1 percent in August 2024. In September 2023, food inflation was higher at 5.8 percent.

The deceleration of food inflation was primarily brought about by the lower inflation rate of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at -21.1 percent in September 2024, from -4.2 percent in the previous month.

Moreover, lower inflation rates during the month were noted in the following food groups: 
a. Rice at 11.2 percent, from 14.0 percent; 
b. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 3.2 percent, from 3.7 percent; 
c. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 3.2 percent, from 4.2 percent; and

On the contrary, the following food groups registered faster year-on-year increases during the month: 
a. Corn at 35.4 percent, from 31.8 percent 
b. Fish and other seafood at 4.8 percent, from -3.3 percent; 
c. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 6.5 percent, from 1.2 percent; 
d. Fruits and nuts at 32.2 percent, from 18.3 percent; 
e. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. at 4.7 percent, from 3.8 percent.

Meanwhile, food groups of oils and fats; and sugar, confectionery and desserts retained its previous month’s inflation rates at -5.2 percent and -0.7 percent, respectively.

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

NDP/IJCA/EAD