April 2011

• Month-on-Month

  The monthly change of the General Retail Price Index (GRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) advanced to 1.1 percent in April from -0.1 percent in March. This resulted from the higher monthly price movement in crude materials, inedible except fuels index at 27.2 percent in April from zero growth in March; mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, 12.1 percent from 4.0 percent; machinery and transport equipment and miscellaneous manufactured articles, 0.2 percent from -0.1 percent and zero growth. Monthly price hikes were however, slower in the indexes of beverages and tobacco at 0.2 percent in April from 0.6 percent in March; chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats, 0.4 percent from 0.5 percent; and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials, 0.2 percent from 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, the food index posted a negative rate during the month.

  Price hikes were noted in charcoal, gasoline, LPG and other petroleum products, selected electrical wires and wiring devices, sanitary fixtures, clothing, footwear and office supplies. In addition, prices of liquor and wines, paints, lumber, plywood, cement, steel bars and nails were on the uptrend. 
   

• Year-on-Year

  The annual growth rate of the GRPI in NCR increased to 5.1 percent in April from 4.2 percent in March. A higher price increment was noted in beverages and tobacco index at 2.7 percent in April from 2.6 percent in March; crude materials, inedible except fuels 28.5 percent from 1.7 percent; mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials 29.5 percent from 15.5 percent; chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats, 1.7 percent from 1.4 percent; machinery and transport equipment, 2.5 percent from 2.4 percent and miscellaneous manufactured articles, 1.0 percent from 0.9 percent. The rest of the commodity group has lower annual growth rate.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines

Page last revised: June 24, 2011