Butuan city: Rice and diesel prices surged in April, almost doubling Caraga Region's inflation rate to 10.1 percent from 5.5 percent in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority in Caraga (PSA-13) reported Monday. PSA-13 officer-in-charge Regional Director Guillermo Lipio Jr. highlighted the significant rise in rice and diesel costs as key contributors to this inflation spike.

According to Philippines News Agency, rice posted the highest inflation among food items last month, escalating to 21.2 percent from 5.3 percent in March. Diesel inflation accelerated dramatically to 126.7 percent from 59.9 percent, while gasoline prices increased to 66.3 percent from 27.8 percent. These surges have significantly impacted the region's economic landscape.

Lipio noted that food and non-alcoholic beverages were major factors in the inflation acceleration, with a 10.0 percent inflation rate last month, up from 4.2 percent in the previous month. These categories contributed 59.5 percent to Caraga's inflation uptrend in April. The transport group also played a significant role, experiencing a 27.6 percent inflation rate, up from 11.9 percent in March, and contributing 33.7 percent to the inflation uptrend. Other passenger transport by road fares increased to 24.2 percent from 7.5 percent.

The region's average inflation from January to April this year stood at 5.6 percent. Among the provinces, Surigao del Sur recorded the highest inflation at 12.3 percent, rising from 4.6 percent, while Surigao del Norte logged the lowest at 8.0 percent, up from 5.3 percent. Additionally, Dinagat Islands saw an inflation rate of 12.2 percent, up from 7.7 percent, Agusan del Norte 11.6 percent, up from 6.7 percent, and Agusan del Sur 8.5 percent, up from 4.5 percent. Butuan City also reported a 10.4 percent inflation last month, an increase from 7.3 percent in March.