08 May 2024 - Guimaras. The headline food inflation in Guimaras province expanded to 11.6 percent in April 2024 from 10.8 percent in the previous month, the highest food inflation recorded in thirteen months. In April 2023, food inflation was lower at 7.7 percent. (Figure 1)

“The acceleration of food inflation in April 2024 was primarily influenced by the annual increase in Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 13.8 percent during the month, from 2.7 percent in April 2023, with 58.2 percent share to the overall food inflation,” Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said.

“Also sharing to the uptrend of food inflation were fast increases observed in Fish and other seafood at 3.2 percent from -0.2 percent in March 2024 with 39.1 percent share to April 2024 food inflation, and Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. at 12.3 percent from 11.4 percent in the previous month with 1.6 percent share,” she added.

Moreover, inflation rates were faster during the month in the indices of the following food items: Sugar, confectionery, and desserts, -7.3 percent from -7.8 percent; and Oils and fats, -2.6 percent from -3.5 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups registered slower inflation rates during the month: Cereals and cereal products at 23.6 percent from 26.1 percent; Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 15.3 percent from 20.0 percent in the previous month; Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 3.5 percent from 5.2 percent; and Fruits and nuts with a recorded inflation of -43.7 percent from 5.4 percent in March 2024. (Table 1&2).

Meanwhile, the top three commodity groups contributing to the April 2024 overall inflation were Cereals and cereal products, with 69.4 percent contribution or 8.05 percentage points; Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 15.4 percent contribution or 1.79 percentage points; and Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 7.6 percent contribution or 0.88 percentage points. (Table 1&2)