·  Producer Price Index increases

The Producer Price Index (PPI, 2000=100) for the manufacturing industry slightly increased by 0.7 percent in April 2009, compared with the year ago level, according to the preliminary results of the Monthly Producer Price Survey. Fifteen major sectors reported price increases, led by textiles with a two-digit growth of 17.7 percent, followed by footwear and wearing apparel (12.1%), beverages (10.9%) and leather products (10.1%). However, decreases in the PPI were also observed in five major sectors led by petroleum products (27.9%). Refer to Tables 1 and 1-A.

PPI, on a month-on month basis, slightly grew by 0.3 percent in April. Increases in price were observed in nine major sectors led by furniture and fixtures. Meanwhile, flat growth in prices of commodities were recorded for the following major sectors, namely textiles, tobacco products, beverages, publishing and printing, wood and wood products and leather products. Refer to Tables 1 and 1-B.

·  Response Rate

The response rate for April 2009 is 92.1 percent, which corresponds to the retrieval of 290 sample establishments reports. Refer to Table 2.

Response Rates for Total Manufacturing
(In percent)

·  Technical Notes

The 2009 PPI Release utilizes the amended 1994 PSIC. Rubber and Plastic Products is a new major sector, consisting of two sub-sectors, namely: Rubber Products and Plastic Products . Rubber Productswas previously a major sector while Plastic Products was one of the sub-sectors of Chemical Products.

Previously, with seven sub-sectors, the major sector of Chemical Products now has six sub-sectors, namely: Basic Chemicals and Industrial Gases, Fertilizers, Paints, Drugs and Medicines, Cosmetics and Toilet Preparations and Miscellaneous Chemicals.

The corresponding weights of the above sectors and sub-sectors have been recomputed to allow for the revised computation of the indices.

Weights for the 2009 PPI are based from the results of the 2005 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) for manufacturing establishments with average total employment (ATE) of 20 and over.

Data of non-responding sample establishments are estimated based on previous records and other available sources. Revisions to the preliminary estimates are done upon receipt of actual reports of late respondents.

TABLE 1-A. PRODUCER PRICE INDEX, MARCH 2009 - APRIL 2009 
(2000=100)

TABLE 1-B. PRODUCER PRICE INDEX, MARCH 2009 - APRIL 2009 
(2000=100)

Note:

a/ - new sector in the 2000-based series

Sectors are ranked according to their contribution to the overall 2000-based growth rate.

Year-on-year growth rates are computed by dividing the current month index by previous year same month index less 1.

Month-on-month growth rates are computed by dividing the current month index by previous month index less 1

Source:   National Statistics Office
                 Manila, Philippines