1. A. 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 correspondingly accelerated to 163.5 and 170.5 in September from their respective August levels of 162.8 and 169.5.

   The onset of harvest season for palay in some provinces brought down the price of rice in many regions including NCR. Thus, prices of FBT items in NCR were pulled down by this seasonal factor. However, in AONCR, the lower price of rice was offset by the upward price adjustments of other food items, hence, the FBT index in the area showed an uptrend.

   Compared with August 2004, the seasonally adjusted month-on-month inflation of FBT items in NCR and AONCR increased respectively to 0.4 percent and 0.6 percent in September from 0.3 percent and 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 picked up to 205.7 and 200.7 in September from their respective August levels of 204.3 and 199.3. Seasonal factors such as the low demand of goods and services during the lean months of August and September did not raise prices of non-FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. On the other hand, these seasonal factors slightly pushed up prices of non-FBT items in AONCR.

On a monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR went up to 0.7 percent in September from 0.5 percent last month.

Page last updated: October 8, 2004