The headline inflation in the province of Capiz fell to 3.2 percent in September 2024 from 4.3 percent recorded in August 2024. This is the second lowest recorded inflation for 2024 and the lowest in the last twenty-four months since the base year was changed to 2018. Inflation in September 2023 was higher at 6.2 percent. The average inflation in the province of Capiz for the year still stood at 3.8 percent. The average for Western Visayas also stood at 3.8 percent, which is 0.4 percent higher when compared to the national average inflation, which stood at 3.4 percent. (Figure 1, Table A and Table D).

The provincial inflation slowed further due to a decrease in the index of the most heavily weighted commodity group of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, which dropped to 5.5 percent from 6.9 percent in August 2024. The biggest drop in this commodity group was seen in Meat and other Parts of slaughtered land animals, which declined to 11.3 percent from 20.1 percent in August 2024, along with Vegetable, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses, which decreased to -4.8 percent from 4.5 percent in August 2024.

The Non-Food Commodity group also declined further, dropping 1.0 percent from 1.9 percent in the previous period. This decline was led by the most weighted non-food commodity group, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and other fuels, which decreased to 2.5 percent from 4.0 percent in the previous month, along with Transport, which dropped to -4.5 percent from -2.3 percent in its previous period. (Table B and Table C)

Other non-food commodity groups either suffered a decline or maintained their previous marks during the period.

1. Clothing and Footwear, 2.5 percent vs 2.5 percent in August 2024.
2. Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.2 percent vs 1.4 percent.
3. Health, 1.9 percent vs 2.0 percent
4. Recreation, Sport and Culture, 2.5 percent vs 2.7 percent
5. Education Services, 4.1 percent vs 4.1 percent in the previous month.
6. Restaurant and accommodation services, 2.1 percent vs 2.1 percent
7. Personal care and Miscellaneous goods services 2.2 percent vs 2.5 percent

During this period, some food commodities within the food index group have shown an increase in prices. Specifically, the price of rice has risen to 21.0 percent from 17.5 percent in August 2024, while the price of fish and other seafood has decreased to -0.9 percent from -1.8 percent in the previous period (Table C). In the meantime, the following food groups exhibited an annual changes or retain its previous mark during the period:

1. Sugar, Confectionery & Dessert -2.0 percent vs -4.0 percent in August 2024
2. Milk and Other Dairy products & Egg 1.5 percent vs 2.3 percent
3. Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta products and other Cereals, 1.3 percent vs 2.0 percent
4. Oil and Fats, 1.1 percent vs 1.6 percent .
5. Fruits and Nuts, 3.3 percent vs 4.4 percent
6. Corn, 0.9 percent vs 3.0 percent

In addition, the annual rate of non-alcoholic beverages remains unchanged at 0.7 percent compared to the previous period, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased to 3.3 percent during the reference period, up from 2.4 percent in the preceding month (see Table C).