RECENT reports released on October 28 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that inflation in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) climbed to 6.6 percent in September, with Apayao and Mountain Province having the highest degree of inflation in the region.
Apayao had an overall inflation rate of eight percent, while Mountain Province was as high as 9.1 percent.
However, Abra meanwhile saw a drop in inflation rate, which dropped to 6.6 in September from 7.5 in August.
PSA data indicates that goods worth P100 in 2018 were now worth P114.20, with most provinces in the region grappling with lower purchasing power.
According to the PSA, one big factor driving the inflation in the region was transportation, when inflation increased from 26.6 percent in August to 28.4 percent in September, driving up bus fares from 3.7 percent to five percent, as diesel consumed in the Cordillera had an inflation spike from 69.7 percent in August to 73 percent in September.
The highest inflation rate for transportation was recorded in Apayao province, with a jump from 32.3 percent in August to 37.5 percent in September.
Other factors for inflation were electricity at 24.4 percent; education services at 1.6 percent; now that schools have reopened, clothing and footwear at 3.4 percent; recreational services, including restaurants and hotels at 7.7 percent; as well as continuing health needs at a 3.0 percent inflation rate because of the prevailing pandemic.
