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 slightly decreased to 119.2 in May from 119.3 in April while that for AONCR went up to 124.3 from 123.5.

   The observance of fiestas in many areas brought bigger demand of meat. Thus, prices of meat were up nationwide. Moreover, the extreme heat during the month resulted to big spoilage of some vegetables thereby increasing their prices in NCR. Likewise, prices of chicken in the area were higher as the warm temperatures stunted the growth of chickens hence, affecting their volume of supply in the markets.

   The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR dropped to - 0.1 percent in May from 0.3 percent last month. Likewise, additions in the prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in AONCR were slower at 0.6 percent from 0.7 percent in April.

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 registered at 136.8 and 133.1 in May were higher than their respective last month?s levels of 135.8 and 132.4. Prices of non-FBT items in the two areas were not pushed up by the seasonal factors relative to the expected trend.

Compared to April 2005, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR were up by 0.7 percent in May. This was however, slower than its previous month?s rate of 1.0 percent. For three consecutive months, increments in the prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in AONCR were at 0.5 percent.