WV inflation in August 2021 accelerates to 4.4 percent

 Inflation in Western Visayas accelerated to 4.4 percent in August 2021, from 4.3 percent in the previous month.

In August 2020, inflation in Western Visayas at 2.7 percent. (Table 1)

The uptrend in inflation was mainly due to the higher annual hike in Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco index at 13.3 percent.

Another factor in the uptick were the higher annual increments registered in the indices of the following commodity groups:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 3.1 percent;
• Clothing and footwear, 2.4 percent;
• Health, 3.0; and
• Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.3 percent.

The index in recreation and culture also posted an annual growth of 0.8 percent during the month, from an annual drop of -1.4 percent in the previous month.

However, annual rates were lower during the month in the indices of the following commodity groups:

• Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, 3.2 percent; and
• Furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 3.0 percent.

Meanwhile, the rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s annual growth rates. (Table 2)

All provinces in Region VI, except Guimaras and Iloilo, registered higher inflation in August 2021. The highest inflation during the month at 6.5 percent was noted in Capiz, while the lowest was noted in Iloilo at 3.4 percent. (Table 3)