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 increased to 123.9 in January from 123.8 in December. Likewise, the seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT in AONCR went up to 128.6 from 128.1 last month.

   Seasonal factors in January such as the cold weather condition brought lower production of eggs, thus raising their prices in NCR and AONCR. Prices of fish were also up in the two areas due to reduced fishing trips during the cold mornings of the month. Moreover, bigger demand of fish was also observed as consumers shifted from meat to fish after the holiday season. All these factors pushed up prices of FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

   Compared to last month, prices of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR and AONCR moved up by 0.1 percent from zero growth while that in AONCR remained at 0.4 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 posted correspondingly at 144.6 and 139.6 in January were higher than their respective December levels of 143.6 and 138.9. Seasonal factors such as the practice of implementing business changes at the beginning of the year like increasing rental rates and charges on selected services items pulled up prices of non- FBT items in the two areas relative to the expected trend.

On a monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR respectively climbed by 0.7 percent and 0.5 percent in January from 0.3 percent in December.