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 recorded at 129.0 and 132.1 in August were higher than their respective July levels of 127.5 and 131.5.

   Seasonal factor like the inclement weather condition during the month lowered supplies of selected food items in the markets such as vegetables, meat and eggs. The lean month of August also saw higher prices of rice. These seasonal factors thus generally pushed up prices of FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

   On a monthly basis, prices of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR and AONCR respectively increased by 1.2 percent and 0.5 percent in August from 0.6 percent and zero growth in July.

2. B. 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 remained at its July level of 151.2 while that for AONCR went up to 144.2 from 143.6.

Seasonal factors such as the low demand of goods and services during the lean month of August did not raise prices of non-FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. On the other hand, these seasonal factors pulled up prices of non-FBT items in AONCR.

The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted non-FBT items in NCR posted a zero growth in August from 0.7 percent in July while increments in the prices of seasonally adjusted non-FBT items in AONCR was at 0.4 percent for three consecutive months.

Page last updated: September 5, 2006