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 in NCR and AONCR were correspondingly recorded at 162.7 and 169.3 in August. These were higher than their respective July levels of 162.3 and 168.6.

   The rainy season and the lean month of August generally pushed up prices of FBT items in AONCR relative to the expected trend. However, these seasonal factors did not push up prices of FBT items in NCR as the influx of Benguet-produced vegetables in the wet markets fill-in the consumer's demand in the area.

   On the monthly basis, inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR was 0.2 percent, the same rate posted in July. Meanwhile, inflation for AONCR decelerated to 0.4 percent from 0.8 percent.

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 correspondingly picked up to 204.2 and 199.3 in August from their respective July levels of 203.2 and 198.2. Seasonal factors such as the low demand of goods and services during the lean month of August did not pull down prices of non-FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. On the other hand, these seasonal factors pushed up prices of non-FBT items in AONCR.

Increases in the prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR at 0.5 percent and 0.6 percent in August were slower than the 0.6 percent and 1.1 percent increments in July.

Page last updated: September 9, 2004