• Year-on-year inflation rate rose to 3.7 percent in April, the highest so far for the year, from 3.3 percent in March. Inflation rate a year ago was 7.9 percent.

• Compared to April last year, higher prices of items in all commodity groups except for miscellaneous items contributed to the increase in the inflation rate.

• Higher month-on-month inflation in the housing and repairs (H&R) and fuel, light and water (FLW) indexes were tempered by the continued dip in food, beverages and tobacco (FBT) resulting to a 0.2 percent increase in April.

 

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
(1994=100)
APRIL 2000

> By Commodity Group, Year-on-Year

* Inflation in all commodity groups, increased during the month except for that of miscellaneous items which remained at -1.0 percent. The rates for FBT went up to 1.1 percent in April from 0.7 percent in March; clothing, 2.4 percent from 2.3 percent; housing and repairs (H&R), 6.1 percent from 5.9 percent; FLW, 10.1 percent from 9.2 percent; and services, 11.5 percent from 11.4 percent.

• The inflation rate for food alone moved up to 0.9 percent in April from 0.3 percent in March. Slower declines were posted in the indexes of rice, -0.1 percent from -0.5 percent; fruits and vegetables, -1.3 percent from -3.9 percent; and meat, -0.6 percent from -1.1 percent. In addition, slower growths were recorded in the indexes of dairy products, 1.2 percent from 1.4 percent; eggs, -2.7 percent from -2.6 percent; and fish, 4.8 percent from 5.1 percent. Faster rates were however, seen in corn, 10.3 percent from 10.2 percent; cereal preparations, 2.3 percent from 2.0 percent; and miscellaneous foods, 0.1 percent from -0.1 percent.

* In Metro Manila (MM), the rates for FBT, clothing, FLW and miscellaneous items were correspondingly higher by 0.3 percentage point, 0.6 percentage point, 0.7 percentage point, and 0.2 percentage point. On the other hand, the rates for H&R and services decreased by 0.2 percentage point.

• The inflation rate for food alone in MM was at zero this month from -0.4 percent last month. Higher rates were registered in the prices of rice, 1.4 percent in April from 0.7 percent in March; cereal preparations, 1.0 percent from 0.4 percent; meat, -3.6 percent from -5.6 percent; and miscellaneous foods, 1.5 percent from 1.3 percent. However, slower rates were noted in the prices of corn, -2.5 percent from 25.7 percent; fish, 6.0 percent from 6.7 percent; and fruits and vegetables, -5.7 percent from -5.4 percent.

* For areas outside Metro Manila (AOMM), the rates for FBT were higher by 0.5 percentage point; H&R, 0.4 percentage point; FLW, 0.9 percentage point; and services, 0.1 percentage point. The rate for clothing declined by 0.1 percentage point while that for miscellaneous items remained at -0.4 percent.

• The inflation rate for food alone went up to 1.2 percent in April from 0.6 percent in March.

• The inflation rate for rice was -0.3 percent in April from -0.7 percent in March. Five regions posted slower rates while two regions (Northern and Southern Mindanao) had higher rates. The biggest increase was in Western Visayas at 2.3 percentage points.

• The inflation rates for corn rose to 10.5 percent this month from 10.0 percent last month; cereal preparations, 2.8 percent from 2.6 percent; fruits and vegetables, 0.2 percent from -3.4 percent; and miscellaneous foods, --0.4 percent from -0.6 percent. Slower rates were registered in the prices of fish, 4.4 percent from 4.6 percent; and meat, 0.6 percent from 1.0 percent.

> By Region, Year-on-Year

* The inflation rate for Metro Manila increased to 3.4 percent in April from 3.2 percent in March.

* Inflation in AOMM went up to 3.8 percent in April from 3.4 percent a month earlier. Except for Cagayan Valley and Bicol where inflation rates remained at 2.8 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, all other regions posted higher inflation rates. The biggest increment was registered in CARAGA at 0.9 percentage point followed by Central Luzon at 0.7 percentage point. ARMM and Ilocos still recorded the highest and the lowest rates at 9.6 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

> By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

• The month-on-month inflation rates for H&R rose to 0.5 percent in April from 0.2 percent in March; and FLW, 1.1 percent from 0.6 percent. On the other hand, the inflation for FBT, clothing and miscellaneous items remained at their corresponding March rates of -0.1 percent, 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent.

• The price of rice in the Philippines went up but at a slower rate of 0.2 percent in April from 0.8 percent last month. Twelve regions registered either decreases or slowdowns from their previous rates. The highest rate was in Western Visayas at 1.3 percent while Cagayan Valley recorded the lowest rate at -0.9 percent.

• Prices of corn in AOMM increased to 1.1 percent this month from 0.7 percent last month. However, in MM its price continued to decline by -3.3 percent from -4.1 percent last month.

• Prices of cereal preparations in MM went up to 0.6 percent this month from 0.2 percent last month while inflation in AOMM remained at its March rate of 0.1 percent. This resulted to a 0.3 percent increase at the national level as flour, bread and noodles were priced higher during the month.

• Prices of dairy products in MM rose to 0.3 percent from -0.1 percent as prices of ice cream and powdered milk increased during the month. In AOMM, inflation declined to -0.1 percent from 0.1 percent last month. The overall index continued to move at 0.1 percent.

• Prices of eggs in AOMM continued to decline: -0.4 percent from -0.1 percent. However, in MM, prices of eggs grew by 0.3 percent from -0.9 percent in March.

• Fish prices in MM decreased by 3.3 percent in April from 2.7 percent in March and also in AOMM at -0.2 percent from -1.1 percent. This gave a 0.8 percent drop in the national index as supply was abundant brought about by favorable weather conditions.

• The index for fruits and vegetables increased in MM to 1.7 percent from -2.5 percent while in AOMM, it declined to -0.5 percent from -2.2 percent. Overall a zero growth was posted for the month.

• Higher prices of beef and pork in MM pushed up the meat index by 0.2 percent in the Philippines, even with a zero growth in AOMM.

• Prices of miscellaneous foods went down by 0.1 percent as prices of sugar, salt, garlic, cooking oil, and margarine were priced lower during the month.

• Prices of meals eaten outside remained stable and posted zero growth this month.

  * The FLW index increased to 1.1 percent in April from 0.6 percent a month earlier. This was brought about by the increases in the prices of LPG, kerosene, and charcoal along with higher rates for electricity and water consumption in many regions and higher purchased power adjustment (PPA) and currency exchange rate adjustment for electricity in MM.

  * The H&R index in the Philippines went up to 0.5 percent from 0.2 percent last month. This was due to higher prices of some construction materials like cement, gravel, plywood, nipa shingles, and paint along with slight increases in rental rates in many regions.

  * The services index for the whole country, MM and AOMM went up by 0.3 percent in April, slower from the March rate of 0.4 percent. Increases were brought about by slightly higher prices of some school supplies such as pad paper, bond paper, notebook, and crayons, gasoline, diesel oil, engine oil, and medicines along with higher charges for men's and boy's haircut and wages of domestic helper.

  * Inflation in the clothing index in the Philippines remained at 0.2 percent.

  * Prices of miscellaneous items in MM went up to 0.2 percent from -0.3 percent while moving at a slower rate of 0.1 percent from 0.3 percent in AOMM. Overall, prices remained at its March rate of 0.1 percent.

  > By Region, Month-on-Month

  * Prices in MM continued to increase by its March rate of 0.2 percent. The rates for clothing were higher by 0.3 percentage point; FLW, 0.2 percentage point; and miscellaneous items, 0.5 percentage point. On the other hand, inflation in FBT and services were lower by 0.2 percentage point and 0.1 percentage point, respectively. Inflation of the H&R index remained at 0.2 percent.

  * Prices in AOMM went up to 0.2 percent in April from zero growth last month. Higher rates were noted in the prices of FBT, zero growth from -0.2 percent; H&R, 0.8 percent from 0.2 percent; and FLW, 0.8 percent from 0.4 percent. Meanwhile, slower rates were registered in the prices of clothing, 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent; services, 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent; and miscellaneous items, 0.1 percent from 0.3 percent. Compared to last month, eight regions recorded higher rates. The highest rate was posted in Central Visayas and ARMM at 0.6 percent while the lowest was in Cagayan Valley at -0.4 percent.

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  No reports were received from the following: 

  1. Sulu - 1st and 2nd phase
  2. Lanao del Sur-1st and 2nd phase
  3. Marawi City - 1st and 2nd phase

  Negros Oriental 2nd phase report cannot be read by the system.