THE inflation rate in Davao Region accelerated to 5 percent in May 2018 from 4.3 percent in April.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in Davao (PSA 11) showed that the region's inflation rate is much higher than the 4.6-percent national inflation rate in May.
It is double the May 2017 inflation rate of 2.2 percent.
PSA said the higher inflation rate was due to the increase in the indices of almost all commodity groups.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased to 14.5 percent in May 2018 from 14 percent in April 2018; transport went up to 7.7 percent from 6.2 percent; food and non-alcoholic beverages increased to 6.1% from 5.4 percent; clothing and footwear, 3.4 percent from 3.1 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels recorded at 2.5 percent from 1.3 percent.
Slower rates were observed in restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, which inched up to 3.2 percent from 3.1 percent; furnishing, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house, 2.3 percent from 2.2 percent; recreation and culture, 1.9 percent from 1.8 percent; and communication, 1.1 percent from 1 percent.
Health and education were unchanged at 4.6 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.
The agency also reported that inflation rates in all provinces of Davao Region increased.
Davao Oriental had the highest inflation in May 2018 at 6.4 percent while Davao del Sur had the lowest at 4.5 percent, PSA 11 said.
Davao Oriental's April 2018 inflation was at 5 percent while Davao del Sur's was at 3.9 percent. Davao del Norte's inflation rate was 5.3 percent from 5.1 percent and Compostela Valley at 5 percent from 4.1 percent.