APRIL AND MARCH 2010

• The upward adjustments in electricity rates still observed in NCR and in many regions in AONCR primarily pushed up the overall month-on-month inflation rate to 0.5 percent in April from 0.2 percent in March. The FLW index advanced by 11.0 percent in NCR, 1.5 percent in AONCR and at the national level by 5.0 percent. Increments in the prices of food items such as eggs and fish in selected provinces and in rice, corn, fruits and vegetables in NCR also contributed to the uptrend.

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  CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
  (2000=100)
  APRIL 2010

  By Region, Year-on-Year

  The annual inflation rate in NCR picked up to 5.3 percent in April from 5.0 percent in March.

  Annual inflation rate in AONCR remained at 4.1 percent in April. Higher annual inflation rates were posted in four regions with the biggest jump of 0.3 percentage point observed in Ilocos (3.0% from 2.7%). Meanwhile, slowdowns in the annual rates were registered in seven regions. The highest annual rate was still recorded in ARMM at 6.7 percent while the lowest rate at 2.7 percent was in Northern Mindanao.

  By Commodity Group, Year-on-Year

  At the national level, the annual rate of price increment in the clothing index decelerated to 2.0 percent in April from 2.1 percent in March; services, 5.8 percent from 6.8 percent; and miscellaneous items, 1.4 percent from 1.5 percent. On the other hand, higher annual price hike was seen in FLW index at 17.8 percent from 14.6 percent while that for FBT and H&R index remained at their respective last month’s rates of 3.1 percent and 1.7 percent.

  The annual inflation for food alone in the Philippines at 3.1 percent in April was the same rate registered in March.

  On an annual basis, higher price increases were posted in the index of eggs at 2.5 percent in April from 2.0 percent in March; fruits and vegetables, 2.1 percent from 1.4 percent; and miscellaneous foods, 5.8 percent from 5.6 percent. On the contrary, the annual price gain in rice index eased to 0.6 percent from 0.7 percent; dairy products, 1.8 percent from 1.9 percent; fish, 3.9 percent from 4.1 percent; and meat, 4.5 percent from 4.9 percent. The annual movement in the cereal preparations index remained at 3.2 percent while that for the corn index further decreased to -5.4 percent from -4.4 percent.

  In NCR, a higher annual rate of price hike was posted in FLW index at 25.5 percent in April from 19.9 percent in March. A slower annual price increase was however registered in FBT index at 2.3 percent from 2.4 percent; clothing, 1.4 percent from 1.6 percent; H&R, 1.3 percent from 1.4 percent; and services, 6.8 percent from 8.1 percent while that for miscellaneous items index remained at 0.9 percent.

  • Annual inflation for food alone in NCR continued to move at a slower rate at 2.2 percent in April from 2.3 percent in March.

  • A negative annual rate of price movement was still noted in the eggs index at -1.8 percent in April from -2.9 percent in March. Moreover, the annual price add-on in cereal preparations index eased to 1.8 percent from 1.9 percent; fish, 3.9 percent from 5.3 percent; and meat, 3.4 percent from 4.0 percent. The annual price increase in the rice index was however higher at 0.8 percent from -0.3 percent; corn, 23.4 percent from 21.8 percent; fruits and vegetables, 1.1 percent from 0.8 percent; and miscellaneous foods, 2.5 percent from 2.4 percent while that for dairy products index remained at 1.4 percent.

  In AONCR, the annual price increments in FBT, clothing and H&R index correspondingly moved at their March rates of 3.3 percent, 2.3 percent and 2.1 percent. A higher annual price hike was posted in FLW index at 13.4 percent from 11.8 percent while those for services and miscellaneous items index were slower at 5.2 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively from their corresponding last month’s rates of 5.9 percent and 1.7 percent.

  • The annual price change for food alone in AONCR at 3.3 percent in April was the same rate registered in March.

  • Annual movement in the price of eggs was higher at 3.8 percent in April from 3.6 percent in March; fish, 3.9 percent from 3.8 percent; fruits and vegetables, 2.5 percent from 1.7 percent; and miscellaneous foods, 7.2 percent from 7.1 percent.

  • The annual price increase in the rice index in AONCR eased to 0.6 percent in April from 0.8 percent in March as all the regions either posted negative or slower annual rates except for Cagayan Valley, Central Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN. The biggest decrease of 2.9 percentage points was noted in MIMAROPA (1.9% from 4.8%).

  • The annual price adjustment in the corn index further declined to -5.7 percent from -4.8 percent. In addition, annual price gains in cereal preparations index slowed to 3.7 percent from 3.8 percent; dairy products, 2.0 percent from 2.1 percent; and meat, 5.0 percent from 5.3 percent.

  By Region, Month-on-Month

  Prices in NCR went up to 1.4 percent in April from 0.7 percent in March due to the 11.0 percent price increase in the FLW index from 6.0 percent. Moreover, price increments in FBT and miscellaneous items index were also higher at 0.1 percent from their respective last month’s rates of -0.5 percent and zero growth. Meanwhile, price hikes in clothing and H&R index were slower at 0.1 percent from 0.4 percent and services index, 0.5 percent from 0.9 percent.

  Prices in AONCR rose to 0.2 percent in April from 0.1 percent in March as the FLW index grew by 1.5 percent from 1.0 percent. Prices of FBT items also picked up to 0.1 percent from -0.2 percent. Meanwhile, price add-ons in clothing, services and miscellaneous items index were slower at 0.1 percent from their corresponding previous month’s rates of 0.3 percent, 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent. Prices of H&R items generally remained stable during the month as its index posted a zero growth from 0.1 percent.

  Eight regions recorded higher month-on-month inflation rates in April. The highest rate of 0.4 percent was seen in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon while the lowest was in Western Visayas and ARMM at -0.1 percent.

  Among the three big areas in the country, price increases in general were higher in Luzon and Mindanao compared to Visayas.

  By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

  • With the 5.0 percent price increase in FLW index from 2.8 percent, the month-on-month inflation rate at the national level grew to 0.5 percent in April from 0.2 percent in March. A higher rate of price increment in FBT index at 0.1 percent from -0.3 percent also contributed to the uptrend. On the other hand, price increments in clothing and H&R index at 0.1 percent were slower compared to their respective last month’s rates of 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent and services, 0.3 percent from 0.6 percent. Price uptick in miscellaneous items index remained at 0.1 percent.

    The rising prices of selected spices and seasonings pushed up further the miscellaneous foods index in NCR at 0.7 percent in April from 0.1 percent in March. For AONCR, the group’s index moved slower at 0.1 percent from 0.4 percent. Thus, the movement in the national index for miscellaneous foods remained at 0.3 percent.

    With many regions posting higher prices of shrimps, shells and mollusks, selected fresh fish species and canned fish during the month, the group’s index in AONCR and in the Philippines correspondingly advanced to 0.5 percent and 0.2 percent from their respective last month’s rates of -0.6 percent and -0.7 percent. At the end of the Lenten season, lower consumer demand for fish was noticed in NCR. The prevalence of hot weather condition during the month that favored fishermen in catching fish also resulted to sufficient supply of fish species in NCR markets. Thus, the fish index in the area still posted a negative rate of -0.9 percent from -1.3 percent.

    Higher prices of potato and selected fruits such as mango, dalanghita and pineapple in NCR markets pushed up the fruits and vegetables index in the area and in the Philippines by 1.0 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively from their corresponding last month’s rates of -3.9 percent and-4.0 percent. Meanwhile, sufficient supply of fruits and some vegetables in many regions still pushed down the group’s index in AONCR by -0.2 percent from -3.9 percent.

    The cereal preparations index in the Philippines and NCR climbed to 0.2 percent and AONCR, 0.1 percent. This was due to the increases in the prices flour, biscuits and noodles in the area. These were however slower than their respective last month’s rates of 0.3 percent, 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent.

    Sufficient supply of chicken in the markets lowered its prices in NCR and in many regions. Moreover, price reductions were also noted in pork, beef and canned meat in NCR. These factors pulled down the meat index in the three areas: Philippines, -0.2 percent from -0.1 percent; NCR, -0.6 percent from -0.4 percent; and AONCR, -0.1 percent from zero growth.

  • The 18.2 percent jump in electricity rates in NCR effected an 11.0 percent growth in the FLW index in the area. Likewise, the FLW index in AONCR also climbed to 1.5 percent due to higher charges for electricity rates recorded in many regions. The general upward adjustments in the prices of kerosene in NCR and in many regions also contributed to the higher trend.

  • The general price increments in gasoline and diesel nationwide raised the services index in the Philippines by 0.3 percent; NCR, 0.5 percent; and AONCR, 0.1 percent. These were however slower than their corresponding previous month’s rates of 0.6 percent, 0.9 percent and 0.4 percent.

  • Upward price adjustments in selected construction materials in NCR raised the H&R index in the area and in the Philippines by 0.1 percent. Meanwhile, the H&R index in AONCR recorded a zero growth during the month as prices of construction materials generally remained stable in many regions.

NOTES:

1. The following survey reports were not received as of May 5, 2010:

   a. Bohol - second phase

   b. Tawi-Tawi - first and second phase

2. CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are also available upon request at NSO, Industry and Trade Statistics Department, Economic Indices and Indicators Division (Telephone Numbers: 716-39-35 and 715-33-47).

   (Sgd.) CARMELITA N. ERICTA Administrator

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   Source: National Statistics Office
   Manila, Philippines

   Page last updated: May 5, 2010