Year-on-Year

On an annual basis, the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) picked up by 1.7 percent in July 2017. Its annual growth in June 2017 was recorded at 1.4 percent and in July 2016, 1.5 percent. The index of fuels and lubricants exhibited a double-digit annual mark-up of 10.0 percent during the month. Moreover, higher annual gains were posted in the indices of doors, jambs, and steel casement at 3.6 percent and painting works, 1.2 percent. Slower annual increases were, however, seen in the indices of sand and gravel at 2.5 percent and G. I. sheet, 0.2 percent. Annual declines were still registered in the indices of cement at -3.2 percent; plywood, -0.9 percent; and PVC pipes, -0.2 percent. The rest of the commodity groups either retained their previous month’s rate or had zero growth (see Table 2).

Month-on-Month

The CMWPI in NCR inched up by 0.1 percent in July 2017. In the previous month, it went down by 0.4 percent. The index of fuels and lubricants picked up by 2.5 percent from -1.5 percent in the previous month. In addition, higher monthly increments were registered in the indices of sand and gravel at 0.3 percent and painting works, 0.2 percent. Meanwhile, the indices of cement dropped by 0.7 percent; G. I. sheet, -0.2 percent; and reinforcing steel, -0.9 percent. The indices of other commodity groups posted zero growth (see Table 3).

Price increases were observed in petroleum products, sand, gravel and selected painting works during the month. On the other hand, downward price adjustments were noted in cement, steel bars and plain G. I. sheet.