Iloilo city: Inflation in Western Visayas accelerated to 8.4 percent in August from 7.8 percent in July, making the region's rate the fourth highest in the country, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Wednesday. PSA Western Visayas Director Nelida Amolar noted that the region's August inflation rate was up from its previous ranking among the eighth to 11th highest in the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, the August rate brought the region's average inflation for the first eight months of the year to 5.6 percent. Three commodity groups were among the main drivers of the acceleration: housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which rose to 8.9 percent from 7.3 percent in July; transport, to 16.8 percent from 15.1 percent; and health, to 7.6 percent from 5.1 percent.

Inflation also increased for clothing and footwear, to 3.8 percent from 3.4 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, to 8.6 percent from 6.4 percent; information and communication, to 2.2 percent from 1.4 percent; and recreation, sport and culture, to 7.5 percent from 7.4 percent.

Meanwhile, inflation eased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco, to 8.6 percent from 8.7 percent; restaurants and accommodation services, to 14.4 percent from 15.5 percent; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, to 3.7 percent from 4 percent. Inflation for food and nonalcoholic beverages remained at 6.8 percent, while education services stayed at 11.1 percent and financial services at zero.

Inflation accelerated in all provinces and the region's lone highly urbanized city except Capiz. Aklan posted the highest inflation rate at 10.7 percent, while Capiz had the lowest at 3.8 percent. Iloilo City recorded an inflation rate of 7.6 percent.

Amolar attributed Aklan's inflation partly to food and nonalcoholic beverages, which rose 10.3 percent, transport, which accelerated to 20.3 percent from 14.6 percent, and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which increased to 7.7 percent from 2.8 percent. The PSA releases inflation data based on the Consumer Price Index, which tracks changes in the prices of goods and services commonly purchased by households.