BACOLOD CITY, Feb. 8 -- Slower annual inflation rates were recorded by Negros Occidental and this highly-urbanized city in January 2024 to 2.2 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively, primarily due to deceleration in food prices.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data released Thursday showed that the province's rate of price increases in December 2023 is at 3.5 percent while that of Bacolod City is 4 percent.

"The decline in inflation rate for Negros Occidental in January 2024 was brought about by the slight decrease in prices based on the year-on-year rate in the indices for almost all of the commodities," the PSA reported.

These included food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, clothing and footwear, hous...