The headline inflation or overall inflation in Lucena City continued its uptrend as it moved up further to 4.5 percent in April 2024, from 2.9 percent in March 2024. This brings the city’s average inflation from January 2024 to April 2024 at 2.8 percent. In April 2023, inflation rate was higher at 5.5 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 6.9 percent during the month, from 4.0 percent in March 2024. The higher year-on-year increase in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 3.1 percent in April 2024, from 0.2 percent in the previous month also contributed to the uptrend.

In addition, higher inflation rate was also noted in transport at 5.6 percent during the month, from 4.5 percent March 2024.

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

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 5.3 percent; 
b. Clothing and footwear at 1.0 percent; 
c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.7 percent; 
d. Health at -0.3 percent; 
e. Information and communication at 0.3 percent; 
f. Recreation, sport and culture at 2.6 percent; 
g. Education services at 5.6 percent;  
h. Restaurants and accommodation services at 4.4 percent; 
i. Financial services at 0.0 percent; and 
j. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 3.8 percent.

Food inflation in Lucena City further increased to 7.3 percent in April 2024, from 4.1 percent in March 2024. In April 2023, food inflation was lower at 2.6 percent.

The uptrend in the food inflation in April 2024 was primarily brought about by the annual increase in the index of fish and other seafood at 6.1 percent in April 2024, from annual decline of 6.9 percent in the previous month. It was followed by the higher annual increment in the rice index at 24.3 percent during the month, from 20.0 percent in March 2024.

Other contributing factors in the increment of food inflation in the city were the higher inflation rates of the following food groups during the month: 
a. Corn at 21.1 percent, from 4.3 percent; and 
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 13.9 percent, from 2.5 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 3.9 percent, from 4.0 percent; 
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 0.9 percent, from 3.7 percent; and 
c. Fruits and nuts at 8.9 percent, from 9.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the following food groups retained its previous month’s inflation: 
a. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at -2.0 percent; 
b. Oils and fats at -10.0 percent; 
c. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at -0.6 percent; and 
d. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 3.3 percent. 

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

NDP/IJCA/EAD