PUMALO sa 2.3% ang inflation rate para sa buwan ng Oktubre.

Sinabi ni National Statistician at Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) chief Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa na ang inflation — sukatan ng rate ng pagtaas sa presyo ng goods at services—bumilis noong nakaraang buwan.

Ito’y umakyat mula sa 1.9% rate noong Setyembre.

Ayon sa PSA, ang uptrend sa overall inflation noong nakaraang buwan ay ‘primarily influenced’ ng mas mabilis para sa annual increment sa heavily-weighted food at non-alcoholic beverages na umabot sa 2.9% sa panahon ng naturang buwan mula 1.4% sa September 2024.

Idagdag pa rito, ang paghahatid na may mas mabagal na year-on-year decrease na 2.1% sa panahon ng naturang buwan mula 2.4% annual drop noong September 2024 ay nag-contribute sa pagtaas ng inflation rate.

Ang top three commodity groups na nag-contribute sa October 2024 overall inflation ay ang mga sumusunod: Food and non-alcoholic beverages na may 46.9% share o 1.1 percentage point; Housing, water, electricity, gas at iba pang fuels na may 22.0% share o 0.5 percentage point; at Restaurants at accommodation services na may 16.1% share o 0.4 percentage point.

Winika pa ng PSA na ang acceleration ng food inflation ay dulot ng mas mabilis na inflation rate ng bigas na 9.6% noong October 2024 mula 5.7% sa nakalipas na buwan.

Sinundan ito ng gulay, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas at pulses na may matagal na year-on-year decline na 9.2% sa nabanggit na panahon mula 15.8% annual decrease noong September 2024.

Bukod dito, ang index ng mais ay nakapag-ambag din sa uptrend , nakapagtala ito ng mas mabilis na annual increase na 9.7% sa nasabing buwan mula 6.9% noong September 2024.

Sa kabilang dako, sinabi ng PSA na ang mga sumusunod na commodity groups na nakapagrehistro ng mas mababang inflation rates sa nasabing buwan ay ang:

a. Alcoholic beverages at tobacco, 3.0% mula 3.1%

b. Clothing at footwear, 2.7% mula 2.9%

c. Housing, water, electricity, gas at iba pang fuels, 2.4% mula 3.3%

d. Furnishings, household equipment at routine household maintenance, 2.4% mula 2.6%

e. Information and communication, 0.2% mula 0.4%

f. Recreation, sport and culture, 2.6% mula 2.8%

g. Restaurants at accommodation services, 3.9% mula 4.1%

h. Personal care, at miscellaneous goods and services, 2.8% mula 2.9%.

Samantala, sinabi naman ni National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan na ang inflation rate ng bansa ay nananatili sa loob ng target sa kabila ng bahagyang uptick ngayong buwan.

“The latest inflation figures confirm that we are on track to keep inflation within target. The government is fully committed to ensuring price stability and protecting Filipino households from undue shocks,” ang sinabi pa ni Balisacan.

Tinuran ni Balisacan na ang kamakailan lamang na weather disturbances, kabilang na ang Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, ay nagpakita ng mahalagang hamon sa food supply and logistics.

”The government is working relentlessly to keep food available and prices steady, particularly for essential commodities. With targeted support and streamlined food supply chains, we aim to ensure that food is affordable and accessible for Filipino families, especially those most vulnerable to price shocks when disasters hit us,” ayon kay Balisacan. (Daris Jose)