Year-on-Year Growth Rates, All Items
April 2014 - April 2015
| Month | Philippines | Luzon | Visayas | Mindanao |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ||||
| April | -4.3p | -4.9p | -0.5 | -2.9 |
| March | -4.7 | -5.2 | -1.9 | -3.0 |
| February | -4.9 | -5.4 | -2.4 | -2.1 |
| January | -6.4 | -7.2 | -3.0 | -3.0 |
| 2014 | ||||
| December | -4.1 | -4.8 | -1.2 | -0.8 |
| November | -0.4 | -0.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| October | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 1.5 |
| September | 1.7 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 1.9 |
| August | 3.1 | 3.0r | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| July | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| June | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 5.6 |
| May | 5.2 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 6.8 |
| April | 5.3 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 7.0 |
p - preliminary
r - revised
Year-on-Year
The year-on-year change of the General Wholesale Price Index (GWPI) at the national level continued to post a negative rate of 4.3 percent in April. In March 2015, it moved at -4.7 percent and in April 2014, 5.3 percent. Annual declines were still noted in crude materials, inedible except fuels index at 6.5 percent and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index, 30.5 percent. Moreover, slow-paced annual increments were seen in the heavily-weighted food index at 6.8 percent and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials index, 2.1 percent. On the other hand, higher annual rates were observed in the indices of beverages and tobacco at 8.4 percent; chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats, 2.0 percent; and machinery and transport equipment, 2.5 percent. The miscellaneous manufactured articles index retained its March growth of 1.8 percent.
The same trend was noticed in the GWPI in Luzon as it exhibited a negative rate of 4.9 percent in April. Annual decreases were recorded in crude materials, inedible except fuels index at 7.9 percent and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index, 31.3 percent. In addition, the annual hikes in the indices of food and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials decelerated to 7.9 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. However, the annual movement in beverages and tobacco index went up 10.0 percent; chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats index, 2.2 percent; and machinery and transport equipment index, 3.1 percent. That for miscellaneous manufactured articles index remained at 2.1 percent.
The annual change of the GWPI in Visayas went down by 0.5 percent in April. The mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index dropped by 24.1 percent. Moreover, slower annual additions were seen in crude materials, inedible except fuels index at 1.6 percent and chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats index, 0.7 percent. On the other hand, faster annual rates were posted in the indices of food at 8.1 percent; beverages and tobacco, 4.4 percent; and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials, 0.6 percent. The indices for machinery and transport equipment and miscellaneous manufactured articles retained their March rates of 0.4 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively.
In Mindanao, the GWPI fell by 2.9 percent due to the 0.8 percent reduction in the heavily-weighted food index. Moreover, the mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index went down by 23.9 percent and miscellaneous manufactured articles index, 0.1 percent. The annual increase in manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials index eased to 1.4 percent. On the contrary, higher annual gains were registered in beverages and tobacco index at 1.3 percent; crude materials, inedible except fuels index, 7.6 percent; and chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats index, 1.1 percent. Movement in the machinery and transport equipment index was noted at 0.2 percent.
By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month
On a monthly basis, the GWPI at the national level advanced by 0.6 percent in April. Higher monthly growths were observed in food index at 0.4 percent; crude materials, inedible except fuels index, 0.2 percent; mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index, 2.3 percent; and miscellaneous manufactured articles index, 0.1 percent. Meanwhile, upticks in the beverages and tobacco index slowed to 0.4 percent; and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials and machinery and transport equipment indices, 0.1 percent. The chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats index remained at 0.2 percent.
Price hikes in gasoline and kerosene pushed up the mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index in the Philippines by 2.3 percent; Luzon, 2.4 percent; and Visayas and Mindanao, 1.4 percent.
The food index in Visayas climbed 3.3 percent during the month. This was mainly due to the increments in the prices of food items such as powdered milk, cereal preparations, bakery products, some vegetables, ginger, sugar and coffee beans. Likewise, the group’s index in Mindanao accelerated to 1.4 percent as price mark-ups were noticed in beef, meat products, cheese, canned fish, some fruits and vegetables, ginger and sugar. On the other hand, lower prices of eggs, meat products, selected fruits and vegetables pushed down its group’s index in Luzon by 0.1 percent. These mixed price trends resulted to a 0.4 percent growth in the group’s national index.
The beverages and tobacco index in Mindanao moved up at a faster rate of 1.1 percent as prices of selected cigarettes were higher during the period. In Visayas, a 0.5 percent growth in the group’s index was attributed to price increase in brewery and malt products. In Luzon, prices of cigarettes and beer products were up during the month. Hence, its index grew by 0.2 percent. At the national level, the group’s index rose 0.4 percent.
The crude materials, inedible except fuels index in Mindanao jumped to 3.4 percent as bamboo, firewood and sand and gravel were priced higher during the period. Moreover, a 0.4 percent growth in the group’s index in Luzon was due to price increases in copra and abaca. On the other hand, lower prices of copra in Visayas pulled down its group’s index by 2.4 percent. The group’s index at the national level gained 0.2 percent.
Upward adjustments in the prices of paints, medical and pharmaceutical products, soap and other washing compounds and other cosmetic preparations raised the chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats index in Mindanao by 0.3 percent. In Visayas, a 0.2 percent growth in the group’s index was brought about by price additions in coconut oil. The group’s index in Luzon also recorded a 0.1 percent uptick as prices of basic chemicals were higher during the month. At the national level, its index went up by 0.2 percent.
Add-ons in the prices of sanitary fixtures in Visayas and Mindanao effected a 0.1 percent growth in the miscellaneous manufactured articles index in the two areas. In Luzon, prices of miscellaneous manufactured articles generally remained stable during the month. The group’s index in the Philippines inched up by 0.1 percent.
Higher prices of insulated electrical wires contributed to a 0.2 percent increase in machinery and transport equipment index in Luzon. Prices of lamps and fixtures in Visayas were on the uptrend. Price additions in selected electrical appliances were also noticed in Mindanao. Thus, it resulted to a 0.1 percent uptick in their group’s index. The national index picked up by 0.1 percent.
A faster rate of 0.2 percent seen in manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials index in Visayas was due to price mark-ups in leather products, plywood, doors, and paper products in the area. In Luzon, price hikes in lumber, plywood, cement, tiles, G.I. sheets and fabricated wire products were noted during the month. Similarly, increments in the prices of rubber tires were observed in Mindanao. These factors caused a 0.1 percent add-on in the group’s index in the two areas. Movement in the group’s index in the Philippines was registered at 0.1 percent.
Note:
GWPI by sub-group for Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and at the national level are also available upon request at PSA, Economic Sector Statistics Services, Economic Indices and Indicators Division (Telephone Numbers: 716-39-35 and 715-33-47).
