THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Davao Region reported that the region's month-on-month inflation rate for March 2018 remained stable at 4.1 percent.

The rate is, however, higher than the 2.5 percent recorded in March 2017.

Driving the inflation up in March are alcoholic beverages and tobacco (12.7 percent in March from 10.4 percent in February), food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.3 percent from 4.3 percent), restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services (2.5 percent from 2.3 percent), and recreation and culture (1.8 percent from 1.7 percent).

The PSA recorded lower inflation rates for transport (4.9 percent in March from 5.9 percent in February), health (2.5 percent from 2.7 percent), furnishing, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house (2.4 percent from 3.4 percent), and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (2.1 percent from 4.1 percent).

"Education and communication retained its growth at 2.6 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively," PSA said.

The statistics agency also reported that Davao Oriental recorded the highest inflation rate in the region for March at 5.3 percent. This despite that the inflation rate of the province is much lower than the 6.4 percent rate in February.

Davao Oriental is followed by Davao del Norte (5 percent), Compostela Valley (3.8 percent), and Davao del Sur (3.6 percent).