Month-on-Month Growth Rates

Compared with July 2013, the seasonally adjusted CPI for recreation and culture went up 0.3 percent in August from zero growth. On the other hand, increases in the seasonally adjusted CPI for all items decelerated to 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent and education index, 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent. The following commodity groups retained their respective last month’s rate: alcoholic beverages and tobacco index, 0.9 percent; clothing and footwear, health and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services indices, 0.2 percent; and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of house index, 0.1 percent. A zero growth was posted in the index for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels from a movement of -0.2 percent in July.

The lean month of August pushed up the indices for all items; clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; health; recreation and culture; education; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services relative to the expected trend. Meanwhile, the index for alcoholic and beverages and tobacco was pushed down by this seasonal factor.

The seasonally adjusted CPI in NCR for education picked up 0.3 percent in August from 0.2 percent in July while the alcoholic beverages and tobacco index retained its last month’s rate of 0.6 percent. The seasonally adjusted CPI for non-food however dropped by 0.2 percent and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of house index, -0.1 percent. The transport index had a zero growth from 0.3 percent increase in the previous month.

The seasonal factor such as low consumer demand during the lean month pushed up the indices for non-food; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; transport; and education. On the contrary, the index for alcoholic beverages and tobacco was pushed down by this seasonal factor.

In AONCR, the seasonally adjusted CPI for recreation and culture inched up 0.1 percent in August from zero growth in July. Meanwhile, the increments in clothing and footwear and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services indices were slower at 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent. Movement in the index of alcoholic beverages and tobacco remained at 1.0 percent and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house and health indices, 0.2 percent. The seasonally adjusted CPI for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels had a zero growth during the month from a decline of 0.2 percent in July.

Seasonal factors during the lean month pushed up the indices for clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; health; recreation and culture; education; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services. However, the seasonal factor during the month pushed down the index for alcoholic beverages and tobacco relative to the expected trend.