lBy Commodity Group, Year-on-Year

è The inflation rates for food, beverages and tobacco (FBT) increased to 12.2 percent in November from 9.9 percent in October; fuel, light and water (FLW), 6.5 percent from 6.3 percent; and miscellaneous items, 9.4 percent from 9.3 percent. Other groups registered slower inflation rates in November. The rates for clothing slowed down to 7.4 percent in November from 7.9 percent in October; housing and repairs (H&R), 10.0 percent from 10.7 percent; and services, 12.5 percent from 13.6 percent.

>The inflation rate for food alone was 12.3 percent in November, which was higher than 9.9 percent recorded in October. Higher rates were noted in the prices of rice, 4.9 percent from 4.1 percent; fruits and vegetables, 33.9 percent from 20.2 percent; miscellaneous foods, 18.0 percent from 14.9 percent; eggs, 13.4 percent from 12.4 percent; meat, 6.7 percent from 6.3 percent; and fish, 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent. However, lower rates were posted in corn, -4.0 percent from -2.6 percent; cereal preparations, 12.5 percent from 13.1 percent; and dairy products, 12.4 percent from 12.9 percent.

è In Metro Manila (MM), the rates for FBT and miscellaneous items were correspondingly higher by 2.4 percentage points and 0.3 percentage point. On the other hand, the rates for clothing and services were both lower by 0.6 percentage point; H&R, 0.3 percentage point; and FLW, 0.2 percentage point.

> The inflation for food alone in MM moved up to 12.4 percent in November from 10.0 percent in October. Higher rates were posted in the prices of fruits and vegetables, 47.7 percent from 27.6 percent; eggs, 22.0 percent from 20.6 percent; miscellaneous foods, 9.5 percent from 8.7 percent; and fish, 11.5 percent from 10.9 percent. However, slower rates were recorded in the prices of rice, 0.3 percent in November from 0.4 percent in October; corn, 5.6 percent from 6.8 percent; dairy products, 11.5 percent from 12.0 percent; cereal preparations, 14.8 percent from 15.1 percent; and meat, 4.6 percent from 4.9 percent.

® For areas outside Metro Manila (AOMM), the rates for FBT and FLW were correspondingly higher by 2.3 percentage points and 0.2 percentage point. On the other hand, the rates for clothing were slower by 0.4 percentage point; H&R, by 1.0 percentage point; and services, by 1.3 percentage points while inflation in miscellaneous items remained at 8.1 percent.

> The inflation rate for food alone rose to 12.3 percent in November from 9.8 percent in October.

> The inflation rate for rice moved up to 5.7 percent from 4.6 percent last month. Twelve regions posted higher rates; the biggest increment was 6.2 percentage points in Cagayan Valley.

> Inflation rates for fruits and vegetables increased to 29.7 percent in November from 17.8 percent in October; miscellaneous foods, 21.8 percent from 17.7 percent; eggs, 10.8 percent from 10.0 percent; meat, 7.8 percent from 7.0 percent; and fish, 7.5 percent from 7.4 percent. Lower rates were recorded in the prices of corn, -4.2 percent from -2.8 percent; cereal preparations, 11.7 percent from 12.3 percent; and dairy products, 12.8 percent from 13.3 percent.

l By Region, Year-on-Year

® The inflation rate for Metro Manila went up to 11.8 percent in November from 10.9 percent in October.

® AOMM inflation increased to 10.9 percent from 9.9 percent in October. The biggest increments were noted in the typhoon-struck areas such as Cagayan Valley at 3.5 percentage points followed by Ilocos at 2.1 percentage points, Central Luzon, 2.0 percentage points; and Bicol, 1.5 percentage points. Cagayan Valley posted the highest inflation rate at 13.6 percent while Central Mindanao recorded the lowest rate at 8.0 percent.

l By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

è Month-on-month inflation rates for the following groups were higher in November: FBT, 2.4 percent from 0.7 percent in October; FLW, 1.2 percent from 0.9 percent; and miscellaneous items, 0.6 percent from 0.3 percent. On the other hand, inflation rates slowed down in clothing to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent; and H&R, 0.2 percent from 0.5 percent while services retained its rate at 0.5 percent.

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  • The price of rice recorded a zero growth in November brought about by the ongoing harvest season. Month-on-month rates were negative in seven regions. The lowest rate was observed in Western Mindanao at -3.7 percent while Cagayan Valley registered the highest rate at 2.6 percent. Similarly, the price of rice in MM remained stable.
  • Prices of corn continued to decline in the Philippines, -2.4 percent from -4.8 percent; MM, -0.8 percent from -2.2 percent; and AOMM, -2.4 percent from -4.9 percent.
  • Prices of cereal preparations in the Philippines posted a higher rate of 0.7 percent in November from 0.3 percent; 1.1 percent in MM from 0.1 percent; and 0.7 percent in AOMM from 0.4 percent. This was brought about by the increase in the prices of flour, bread, noodles and native cakes during the month.
  • The dairy products indices in the Philippines and MM remained at 0.2 percent. In AOMM, prices of dairy products also increased by 0.2 percent as prices of milk, cheese and butter continued to increase in most of the regions.
  • The index for eggs in the Philippines and MM increased to 1.3 percent and 1.6 percent in November from their corresponding rates of 0.1 percent and -2.7 percent. In AOMM, prices of eggs decelerated to 1.0 percent from 1.1 percent last month.
  • Price mark-ups were noted in November for fish in MM at 0.6 percent and in AOMM at 1.1 percent resulting in a 1.0 percent increase for the Philippines.
  • The fruits and vegetables index was up by 13.1 percent due to the crop damage brought about by the typhoon Iliang. Two-digit inflation rates were recorded in all the Luzon regions from their single-digit rates last month. The biggest increment was noted in Cagayan Valley at 28.1 percent.
  • Higher prices of chicken pushed up the meat index by 0.7 percent in MM and 0.9 percent in AOMM causing the national index to post a 0.8 percent increase.
  • The miscellaneous foods index increased by 3.2 percent in the Philippines and 4.4 percent in AOMM, which were higher than their corresponding rates of 2.9 percent and 3.3 percent posted in October due to the continued increase in the prices of sugar, cooking oil, garlic and sauces. However, in MM, miscellaneous foods decelerated to 0.6 percent from 2.0 percent last month.
  • Prices of meals eaten outside in the Philippines increased by 0.2 percent, which was the same rate last month.

® The FLW index in MM went up by 1.7 percent and in AOMM by 1.0 percent resulting in a 1.2 percent increase at the national level. This was brought about by the increases in the prices of LPG, firewood, kerosene, charcoal, and higher electricity rates in many regions together with higher purchased power adjustment rate (PPA) for electricity in Metro Manila.

® Increases in the prices of personal care items like bath soap, tissue, shampoo, and toothpaste as well as those used for household operations like laundry soap, detergent powder and flourescent tube raised the miscellaneous items group by 0.6 percent in the Philippines, 0.9 percent in MM and 0.5 percent in AOMM.

® Services index increased at the same rate of 0.5 percent in the Philippines while in MM the index increased at a higher rate of 0.6 percent in November from 0.3 percent. In AOMM, the index also increased but at a slower rate of 0.4 percent from 0.5 percent. The increases were brought about by the increase in the prices of medicines, school supplies and gasoline.

® Clothing indices for the national and AOMM increased correspondingly by 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent, which were slower than their October rates of 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent. In MM, the clothing index moved at the October rate of 0.1 percent. This was brought about by the increase in the prices of footwear, ready-made apparel and sewing accessories in many regions.

® The H&R index in the Philippines posted an increment of 0.2 percent, which was lower than the 0.5 percent increase last month.

lBy Region, Month-on-Month

® Prices in Metro Manila increased to 1.2 percent in November from 0.8 percent in October. Increments were noted in the prices of FBT, 0.6 percentage point; FLW, 0.8 percentage point; miscellaneous items, 0.6 percentage point; and services, 0.3 percentage point. A zero growth was registered in H&R while clothing increased by 0.1 percent.

® In AOMM, prices increased by 1.6 percent, which was higher than the 0.5 percent in October. FBT, FLW and miscellaneous items correspondingly recorded higher month-on-month rates by 2.1 percentage points, 0.1 percentage point and 0.2 percentage point. H&R inflation was lower by 0.3 percentage point while those of clothing and services were lower by 0.1 percentage point. Except for Central Visayas, all other regions posted higher rates with the highest recorded in Cagayan Valley at 3.7 percent while the lowest was in Southern Mindanao and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at 0.1 percent.