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 slightly went down to 123.8 in December from 123.9 in November. On the other hand, the seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT in AONCR rose to 128.1 in December from its last month?s level of 127.6.

   Seasonal factors such as the rains experienced in the northern and southern parts of Luzon during the month affected the delivery of vegetables from the production areas to wet markets in NCR thereby increasing their prices. The inclement weather conditions that brought difficulty in catching fishes that usually settle deep in the waters during the cold months caused price increments for selected fish species in the wet markets. Bigger demand for fruits due to the holiday season also effected higher prices for these items. All these factors raised prices of FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. However, these seasonal factors did not pull up prices of FBT items in AONCR.

   The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR declined to - 0.1 percent from 0.5 percent while that in AONCR slowed down to 0.4 percent from 0.6 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 grew to 143.6 and 138.9 in December from their respective November levels of 143.2 and 138.5. Seasonal factors like the production of selected goods for the holiday season resulting to adequate supply of goods in the markets did not affect prices of non-FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. Meanwhile, prices of non-FBT items in AONCR were pushed up by these seasonal factors.

Price additions in seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR were pegged at 0.3 percent in December from their corresponding last month?s rates of 0.6 percent and 1.3 percent.