Month-on-Month

The Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded an increment of 0.6 percent in May from 0.4 percent in April. The price of cement went up by 0.2 percent in May compared to the 0.1 percent growth in April; plywood, 0.4 percent from 0.1 percent; fuels and lubricants, 4.8 percent from 1.9 percent; concrete products and interior electrical fixtures and devices, 0.6 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively from 0.2 percent. Moreover, prices of the following commodity groups increased during the month from zero growth: sand, stone and gravel, 2.5 percent; wood products, 0.2 percent; metal pipes, 0.4 percent; structural steel, 1.3 percent; and electrical rough-in materials, 2.9 percent. The price of G.I. sheets dropped by 0.8 percent from zero growth. Prices for the rest of the commodity groups generally remained stable as they registered zero growth during the month. 
 

Year-on-Year

The annual inflation rate of the CMWPI in NCR at 6.5 percent in May was the same rate recorded in April. Higher annual positive rates were observed in the prices of the following commodity groups: sand, stone and gravel, 13.7 percent from 13.4 percent; fuels and lubricants, 30.7 percent from 25.9 percent; plumbing fixtures, 1.8 percent from 1.5 percent; paints, 4.1 percent from 3.9 percent; exterior electrical equipment/supplies, 10.5 percent from 10.3 percent; interior electrical fixtures and devices, 6.5 percent from 3.7 percent; and electrical rough-in materials, 7.6 percent from 4.9 percent. Slower annual movements were however seen in the prices of cement, lumber, wood products, asphalt, metal pipes, concrete products, G.I. sheets, and tileworks. Annual corresponding price decreases in plywood and structural steel were at -1.9 percent and -4.4 percent from -2.1 percent and -6.1 percent, respectively. The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month�s rates while inflation for blasting materials and machinery and equipment rental were zero.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines

Page last revised: July 7, 2006