Month-on-Month

The Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) registered a slower rate of increment of 0.6 percent in May from 1.8 percent in April. Increases in the prices of the fuels and lubricants slowed down to 0.8 percent in May from 5.2 percent in April; concrete products, 0.8 percent from 2.0 percent; tileworks, 0.4 percent from 1.8 percent; and electrical rough-in materials, 0.3 percent from 3.2 percent. Moreover, prices of plumbing fixtures declined to -0.3 percent from 0.1 percent; paints, -0.2 percent from 0.1 percent; structural steel, -0.5 percent from 1.7 percent; and interior electrical fixtures and devices, -0.4 percent from 3.3 percent. On the other hand, higher rates were noted in the prices of lumber, 1.2 percent from 0.4 percent; wood products, 4.2 percent from 0.7 percent; and metal pipes, 3.8 percent from 3.5 percent. From zero growth, prices of the following commodity groups went up during the month: sand, stone and gravel, 2.2 percent; cement, 0.5 percent; plywood, 0.2 percent; and exterior electrical equipment/supplies, 0.2 percent. Prices for the rest of the commodity groups generally remained stable as they posted a zero growth during the month.

Year-on-Year

The annual inflation rate based on the CMWPI in NCR accelerated to 12.2 percent in May from 11.8 percent in April. Annual price adjustments were higher in the following commodity groups: sand, stone and gravel, 14.4 percent from 11.9 percent; lumber, 10.4 percent from 9.0 percent; wood products, 17.6 percent from 12.8 percent; metal pipes, 40.4 percent from 35.2 percent; concrete products, 9.1 percent from 8.2 percent; exterior electrical equipment/supplies, 23.9 percent from 23.6 percent; tileworks, 9.6 percent from 9.3 percent; and electrical rough-in materials, 40.2 percent from 39.8 percent. Slower annual price additions were however seen in the prices of cement, fuels and lubricants, hardware, plumbing fixtures, paints, structural steel and interior electrical fixtures and devices slowly moved upward. Annual inflation rate recorded in asphalt, aluminum and other metal products, blasting materials, and machinery and equipment rental was zero. The rest of the commodity groups retained their last month's rates.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines