APRIL 2018

GENERAL RETAIL PRICE INDEX IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
(2000=100)

Year-on-Year and Month-on-Month Changes in Percent

Year-on-Year

The annual increase of the General Retail Price Index (GRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) slowed down to 4.0 percent in April 2018. Its annual rate in March 2018 was pegged at 4.2 percent and in April 2017, 3.9 percent. The annual growth of food index decelerated to 5.2 percent and chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats index, 1.3 percent. Meanwhile, higher annual increments were observed in the indices of beverages and tobacco at 12.7 percent; mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, 13.7 percent; and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials, 2.5 percent. Annual movements in the indices of other commodity groups remained at their previous month’s rates (see Table 2).

By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

The month-on-month change of the GRPI in NCR declined by 0.1 percent in April. Its rate in the previous month was registered at 0.2 percent.

• The heavily-weighted food index dropped by 0.6 percent during the period due to lower prices of chicken, eggs, milk, fish, corn, fruits, tubers, rootcrops, legumes, and margarine.

• Compared to March 2018, price increases in alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and cigarettes were lower in April 2018. Thus, the increment in beverages and tobacco index slowed down to 0.6 percent during the month.

• Uptick in the index of crude materials, inedible except fuels eased to 0.1 percent. Price mark-up recorded in gravel was lower compared from its previous month’s growth.

• The index of chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats inched up by 0.1 percent in April brought about by higher prices observed in paints, medicines and cosmetics and toilet preparations.

• Movement in the index of manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials was pegged at 0.3 percent. This was slower from its previous month’s rate of 0.5 percen. Lower price add-ons were observed in selected construction materials.

• Upward adjustments in the prices of electric lamps, electrical wires and switch and selected electrical appliances resulted to a 0.1 percent gain in machinery and transport equipment index.

• A 0.1 percent increase noted in miscellaneous manufactured articles index during the period was brought about by higher prices in selected clothing items, office supplies and sanitary fixtures and fittings.

• The index of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials rose by 4.2 percent as prices of LPG generally went up during the month.