August 2009

• Month-on-Month

  The monthly increase in the wholesale price index of selected construction materials in the National Capital Region (NCR) moved up to 0.1 percent in August from a zero growth in July. This can be attributed to the 5.5 percent growth in the prices of fuels and lubricants from -0.9 percent. Meanwhile, slower price increments were observed in metal pipes and interior electrical fixtures and devices at 0.2 percent from 1.5 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. Price reductions were noted in plywood (-1.2%) and hardware (-0.3%) while price movement for the rest of commodity groups remained stable as they recorded a zero growth during the month.
  

• Year-on-Year

  The year-on-year movement of the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in NCR further decelerated to -2.1 percent in August from -1.4 percent in July. Annual price declines were posted in plywood (-4.3% from -2.7%), fuels and lubricants (-27.7% from -32.0%), asphalt (-15.0% from 10.0%), reinforcing steel (-10.0% from -8.5%) and structural steel (-6.7% from -7.9%). Likewise, slower annual gains were registered in most of the commodity groups. A higher annual rate was however seen in the prices of metal pipes. The other commodity groups retained their last monthÒ³ annual rates while that for blasting materials and machinery and equipment rental was zero.

  ---

  NOTE :

  Revisions of the monthly series from December 2007 to May 2008 were made due to the updates made by the official source on machinery and equipment rental rates last June 25, 2008.

  Source: National Statistics Office
  Manila, Philippines

  Page last revised: September 22, 2009