Affordable rice, lower utility cost slow Cordillera inflation in October
BAGUIO CITY—Affordable rice and cheaper cost of utilities pulled Cordillera inflation down to 1.8 percent in October, easing from the 2.2 percent recorded in both August and September, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said during a briefing on Friday.
Rice posted the steepest price drop in the region—known for high-value vegetables and its indigenous rice culture—registering a negative 16.7 percent deflation in October, compared to negative 15.3 percent the previous month, said Warren Mamateo, PSA Cordillera supervising statistical specialist.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels also saw slower price movements, recording 1.3 percent inflation in October, down from 1.5 percent in September.
Cabbage
Cabbage prices contributed to the region’s overall slowdown in inflation, although they pushed inflation higher in provinces like Apayao.
Cabbage is among Benguet’s high-value crops, and the province supplies 80 percent of the salad vegetables consumed in major Luzon markets, including Metro Manila.
In Baguio City—considered the economic hub of the region—inflation eased to 3.1 percent from 3.5 percent in September. Despite the slowdown, Baguio still posted the highest inflation rate in the Cordillera.
