Month-on-Month

The Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded a decline of -0.1 percent in August from 1.1 percent in July. This can be attributed to the decreases in the prices of cement (-0.1% from 1.5%), plywood (-0.4% from 0.1%), reinforcing steel (-1.5% from 1.9%), structural steel (-0.4% from 0.7%), and exterior electrical equipment/supplies (-2.7% from 12.1%). Likewise, increases in the prices of sand, stone and gravel decelerated to 0.1 percent in August from 3.3 percent in July; fuels and lubricants, 1.0 percent from 1.3 percent; interior electrical fixtures and devices, 1.9 percent from 6.5 percent; and electrical rough-in materials, 2.0 percent from 6.4 percent. On the other hand, higher movements in the prices of lumber and plumbing fixtures were respectively observed at 0.5 percent and 0.3 percent from zero growth; hardware, 0.3 percent from 0.1 percent; and paints, 0.9 percent from 0.5 percent. Prices for the rest of the commodity groups generally remained stable as they registered zero growth this month.
 

Year-on-Year

The annual inflation rate of the CMWPI in NCR eased to 5.9 percent in August from 7.5 percent in July. Slower rates were noted in the annual price increments in most of the commodity groups. Annual price gains were however higher in the prices of lumber, paints, G.I. sheets, interior electrical fixtures and devices and electrical rough-in materials. The rest of the commodity groups moved at their previous month�s rates.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines

Page last revised: September 27, 2006