August 2007

• Month-on-Month

  The retail prices of selected construction materials in NCR generally went down by -0.1 percent in August compared to the 0.5 percent increase in July. Prices of carpentry materials and miscellaneous construction materials correspondingly dropped by -0.1 percent and -0.5 percent in August from their respective last monthÒ³ rates of 0.1 percent and 1.5 percent. Moreover, prices of painting materials and related compounds and plumbing materials moved up at slower pace of 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent from 0.8 percent and 0.9 percent. Prices for the rest of the commodity groups remained stable as they recorded a zero growth.

  Downward movements in the prices of plywood, nails, hinges, lockset and steel bars were noted this month.
  

• Year-on-Year

  The year-on-year inflation rate of the retail prices of selected construction materials slowed down to 3.5 percent in August from 4.0 percent in July. Prices of plumbing materials posted a negative annual rate of -0.5 percent from -1.1 percent. In addition, annual inflation rates were slower in the prices of electrical materials at 6.2 percent in August from 8.2 percent in July; masonry materials, 4.1 percent from 4.4 percent; painting materials and related compounds, 4.9 percent from 9.4 percent; tinsmithry materials, 4.5 percent from 5.1 percent; and miscellaneous construction materials, 9.2 percent from 10.7 percent. On the other hand, prices of carpentry materials were higher at 1.1 percent from 0.9 percent.

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  Source: National Statistics Office
  Manila, Philippines

  Page last revised: September 19, 2007