GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) XII reported during a virtual news conference Tuesday that SOCCSKSARGEN’s inflation rate slows down to 7.3% in March this year from the 7.4 percent in February 2023.

Ma. Eileen Berdeprado, Chief Statistical Specialist of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division (SOCD) of PSA XII who represented Regional Director Atty. Maqtahar Manulon, said that inflation rate in the region in March 2023 is lower than the national which is placed at 7.6%

She disclosed that the main source of the March 2023 deceleration was transport with an 82% share.

Transport, she said, slowed down to 3.1% in March from 7.3 in February, easing down by 4.2%.

She added that the other 18% share in the downtrend came from Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels with 5.4% rate in March from 5.9% in February.

In her presentation of data, Berdeprano also shared the Top 3 major contributors in the March 2023 inflation in the region which include: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverages with 63.2% share; Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels with 12% share; and Restaurant and Accommodation Services with 5.5% share.

Joining PSA XII as discussants were Mary Ann M. Morales, Chief Trade Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry XII and Charday V. Batac, Senior Bank Economist of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan)