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 and AONCR correspondingly picked up to 166.7 and 173.2 in December from their respective November levels of 163.7 and 172.3.

   The seasonal factors such as the cold months and the bigger demand brought about by the holiday season raised prices of FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. However, prices of FBT items in AONCR were pulled down by these seasonal factors.

   On the monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR grew by 1.8 percent in December from -0.5 percent in November. For three consecutive months, increments in the prices of seasonally adjusted FBT items in AONCR was at 0.5 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 went up to 211.4 and 204.5 in December from their respective November levels of 211.1 and 203.3. Seasonal factors such as the large production of selected goods for the holiday season did not push down prices of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR slowed down to 0.1 percent in December from 2.1 percent in November. In AONCR, its increase was still recorded at 0.6 percent.

Page last updated: January 5, 2005