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 and AONCR correspondingly went up to 119.1 and 122.6 in March from their respective February levels of 118.6 and 122.1.

   Seasonal factors such as the prevalence of the favorable weather condition during the month pushed down prices of eggs, fruits and vegetables in the two areas relative to the expected trend.

   The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR climbed up to 0.4 percent in March from 0.3 percent in February. However, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in AONCR slowed to 0.4 percent from 0.7 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 respectively picked up to 134.2 and 131.6 in March from their corresponding previous month?s levels of 133.6 and 131.0.

The graduation season observed during the month raised prices of clothing items in NCR. However, this seasonal factor did not pull up prices of non-FBT items in AONCR relative to the expected trend.

Compared with February 2005, increases in the prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non- FBT items in NCR slightly eased to 0.4 percent in March from 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non- FBT items grew to 0.5 percent from 0.3 percent.