Month-on-Month Growth Rates

The seasonally adjusted CPI for all items at the national level moved up at a higher rate of 0.4 percent in February from 0.1 percent in January; non-food and health, 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.7 percent from 0.2 percent. On the other hand, the increase in recreation and culture index slowed down by 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent. The indices of clothing and footwear and education retained their previous month’s rate of 0.2 percent and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 0.1 percent.

Relative to the expected trend, the seasonal factor like the bigger volume in production of selected goods in preparation for the graduation season pushed up the indices for all items; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; and health. On the other hand, this seasonal factor did not raise the indices of recreation and culture; education; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services. The indices of non-food; clothing and footwear; and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, however, were not affected by this seasonal factor.

The month-on-month growth of the seasonally adjusted CPI for all items and food and non-alcoholic beverages in NCR went up by 0.6 percent in February from their respective previous month’s rates of 0.1 percent and 0.3 percent; alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.9 percent from -0.4 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.9 percent from -0.2 percent; and health, 0.5 percent from 0.1 percent. From zero growth in the previous month, the indices of non-food and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house inched up by 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. On the other hand, a slower gain of 0.3 percent was posted in clothing and footwear index from 0.4 percent while the indices of education and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services moved at their respective previous month’s rates of 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent. That for recreation and culture index dropped by 0.2 percent from 0.6 percent.

The seasonal factor like the increase in volume of production for selected goods in preparation for the graduation season raised the indices of the following commodity groups:

• All Items
• Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages
• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
• Non-food
• Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels
• Health

On the contrary, the indices of clothing and footwear; recreation and culture; education; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services were pushed down by this seasonal factor while it did not affect the index of furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house.

In AONCR, the seasonally adjusted CPI for all items picked up by 0.3 percent in February from 0.2 percent in January; clothing and footwear, 0.2 percent from 0.1 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.6 percent from 0.4 percent. Meanwhile, the transport index continued to decline as it still registered a negative rate of 0.1 percent from -0.5 percent. Movements in the indices of non-food; health; and education remained at 0.2 percent and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 0.1 percent.

The seasonal factor such as bigger volume of production for selected goods in preparation for the graduation season pushed up the indices for all items and health. On the other hand, this seasonal factor pushed down the indices of the following commodity groups:

• Non-food
• Transport
• Education
• Restaurant and Miscellaneous Goods and Services

The indices of clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, however, were not affected by this seasonal factor.