Guimaras food inflation hits 11.6% in April

The headline food inflation in Guimaras province rose to 11.6 percent in April 2024, up from 10.8 percent in the previous month, marking the highest rate in thirteen months. In April 2023, the food inflation rate was lower at 7.7 percent.

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

“Also contributing to the uptrend in food inflation were fast increases observed in fish and other seafood, which rose to 3.2 percent from -0.2 percent in March 2024, with a 39.1 percent share of April 2024 food inflation, and ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., which increased to 12.3 percent from 11.4 percent in the previous month, with a 1.6 percent share,” she added.

Inflation rates were faster in April for the following food items: sugar, confectionery, and desserts, falling less sharply to -7.3 percent from -7.8 percent; and oils and fats, to -2.6 percent from -3.5 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups registered slower inflation rates: 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 significant drop to -43.7 percent from 5.4 percent in March 2024.

Meanwhile, the top three commodity groups contributing to the overall inflation in April 2024 were cereals and cereal products, with a 69.4 percent contribution or 8.05 percentage points; meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, with a 15.4 percent contribution or 1.79 percentage points; and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses, with a 7.6 percent contribution or 0.88 percentage points.