1. CPI of Food, Beverages and Tobacco (FBT): National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)
   

   The seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR in April remained at its March's level of 152.2 while in AONCR, its level went up to 158.0 from 157.6.

   Seasonal factors such as the prevalence of favorable weather conditions still pulled down prices of fish and vegetables in NCR and AONCR. The continued abundant supply of tropical and in-season fruits also pushed down their prices during the month in the two areas. Moreover, the on-going harvest season of rice in selected provinces pulled down its prices in AONCR. However, the lenten season observed in April did not push down prices of meat relative to the expected trend.

   Prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR remained stable as it posted a zero growth in April from 0.1 percent in March. Meanwhile, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in AONCR slightly slowed down to 0.3 percent in April from 0.4 percent last month.

2. CPI of Non-FBT items: National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)

The seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR respectively increased to 191.3 and 186.1 in April from their corresponding March levels of 190.7 and 185.3.

The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR decelerated to 0.3 percent in April from 0.6 percent in March. On the other hand, for three consecutive months, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in AONCR moved at the same rate of 0.4 percent.

Page last updated: May 9, 2003