Month-on-Month

On a monthly basis, the retail price index of selected construction materials in NCR posted a zero growth in December from -0.7 percent in November. Higher prices of masonry and plumbing materials were offsetted by the price declines in carpentry materials, painting materials and related compounds and miscellaneous construction materials. Price movement of electrical materials index eased to 0.1 percent from 0.6 percent while that for tinsmithry materials remained stable during the month.

Downward price adjustments were seen in lumber, plywood, wire nails, paints and steel bars during the month in review.

Year-on-Year

The annual movement of the retail prices of selected construction materials in NCR continued to register a negative rate at -0.7 percent in December from -1.3 percent in November. Annual price declines were still noted in the indices of carpentry materials and miscellaneous construction materials at -1.1 percent and -6.3 percent, respectively from their corresponding last month rates of -0.7 percent and -9.5 percent. In addition, annual price hikes in the indices of electrical materials and painting materials and related compounds correspondingly decelerated to 4.8 percent and 1.1 percent from 5.4 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. The annual rate in tinsmithry materials index remained at 3.0 percent while the rest of the commodity groups have higher annual growth rates.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines