The headline inflation or overall inflation in Lucena City rose to 4.9 percent in June 2024, from 4.4 percent in May 2024. This brings the city’s average inflation from January 2024 to June 2024 to 3.4 percent. In June 2023, inflation rate was lower at 4.2 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 7.6 percent during the month, from 5.6 percent in May 2024.

In contrast, lower inflation rates were noted in the following commodity groups:
a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 4.2 percent, from 4.4 percent;
b. Health at -0.4 percent, from -0.3 percent; and
c. Transport at 5.8 percent, from 6.5 percent.

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 0.9 percent;
c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.7 percent;
d. Information and communication at 0.3 percent;
e. Recreation, sport and culture at 2.6 percent;
f. Education services at 5.6 percent; 
g. Restaurants and accommodation services at 4.4 percent;
h. Financial services at 0.0 percent; and
i. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 3.8 percent.

Food inflation in Lucena City further increased to 8.1 percent in June 2024, from 5.9 percent in May 2024. In June 2023, food inflation was lower at 1.7 percent.

The upward movement in the food inflation in June 2024 was primarily brought about by the higher increase in the index of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 13.3 percent, from an annual decrease of 0.4 percent in the previous month.

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 35.8 percent, from 24.9 percent;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 2.0 percent, from 1.1 percent;
c. Fish and other seafood at 8.9 percent, from 3.4 percent; and
d. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 3.4 percent, from 3.3 percent.

In contrast, the inflation of the following food groups decreased during the month:
a. Rice at 24.9 percent, from 25.1 percent; and
b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 0.6 percent, from 0.7 percent.

Meanwhile, the following food groups retained its previous month’s inflation:
a. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 3.8 percent; 
b. Oils and fats at -9.6 percent.
c. Fruits and nuts at 2.1 percent; and
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at -0.6 percent.

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

NDP/IJCA/EAD