1. Philippines

The seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items at the national level went up month-on-month at a slower pace of 0.7 percent in December 2020, from 0.9 percent in November 2020.

Slower month-on-month increments were observed in the seasonally adjusted CPI for food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.4 percent in December 2020, from 2.0 percent in November 2020; alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.0 percent from 2.3 percent; and clothing and footwear, 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent.

On the other hand, month-on-month upticks were noted in the indices of health, and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively, from a 0.1 percent growth in the previous month.

The indices of the following retained their previous month’s rates:

          a. Non-food, 0.3 percent;
          b. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels; and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, both at 0.2 percent; and
          c. Recreation and culture; and education, both at 0.1 percent.

The seasonal factor such as the degree of demand for selected goods and services during the season pushed up the indices for all items, and food and non-alcoholic beverages. This seasonal factor, however, pushed down the indices of the following commodity groups:

          a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
          b. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels;
          c. Furnishing, household, equipment and routine maintenance of the house;
          d. Health; and
          e. Recreation and culture.

Meanwhile, the seasonal factor did not affect the indices of the following:

          a. Non-food;
          b. Clothing and footwear;
          c. Education; and
          d. Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services. (Table 1)
 

2. National Capital Region (NCR)

In NCR, the month-on-month rate of increment of seasonally adjusted CPI for food and non-alcoholic beverages decelerated to 0.3 percent in December 2020, from 3.3 percent in November 2020; alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.4 percent from 1.7 percent, and education, 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent.

However, the month-on-month increase of the deseasonalized CPI for furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house was higher at 0.2 percent in December 2020, from 0.1 percent in the previous month. In addition, the index for non-food rose month-on-month by 0.3 percent in December 2020, from -0.1 percent in the previous month.

On the other hand, the month-on-month rate of the index of heath remained at 0.2 percent, while a zero percent month-on-month growth was posted in the indices of clothing and footwear; recreation and culture; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services.

The seasonal factor such as the degree of demand for selected goods during the season pushed up the indices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco. On the contrary, this seasonal factor pushed down the indices of the following:

          a. Non-food;
          b. Furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house;
          c. Health;
          d. Recreation and culture; and
          e. Education.

The indices for clothing and footwear and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, however, were not affected by this seasonal factor. (Table 2)
 

3. Areas Outside National Capital Region (AONCR)

In AONCR, the month-on-month rate of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI for all items eased to 0.9 percent in December 2020, from 1.0 percent in November 2020.

Monthly hikes decelerated in the deseasonalized CPI for food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.5 percent in December 2020, from 1.8 percent in November 2020; alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 0.9 percent from 2.4 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent.

On the other hand, higher month-on-increments were registered in the indices of the following:

          a. Non-food, 0.4 percent from 0.3 percent;
          b. Health, 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent;
          c. Transport, 1.1 percent from 0.2 percent;
          d. Recreation and culture, 0.2 percent from 0.1 percent;
          e. Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 0.7 percent from 0.1 percent.

In addition, the index for education inched up month-on-month by 0.1 percent from zero growth, while the index for furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house still moved at its previous month’s rate of 0.2 percent.

The seasonal factor like the degree of demand for selected goods and services during the season pushed up the indices for all items; food and non-alcoholic beverages; and transport. Meanwhile, this seasonal factor pushed down the indices of the following commodity groups:

          a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
          b. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels;
          c. Furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; and
          d. Recreation and culture.

This seasonal factor, however, did not affect the indices of the following:

          a. Non-food;
          b. Health;
          c. Education; and
          d. Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services. (Table 3)

See more at the Seasonally Adjusted Consumer Price Index main page.