October 2007

• Month-on-Month

  The Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) slowed down to 0.1 percent in October from 0.5 percent in September as negative rates were correspondingly noted in the prices of cement and machinery and equipment rental at -0.1 percent and -2.2 percent from 0.1 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the price of fuels and lubricants picked up to 3.0 percent in October from 0.9 percent in September due to add-ons in the prices of gasoline, diesel and fuel oil. 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 of the CMWPI in NCR eased to 3.7 percent in October from 3.9 percent in September. Annual corresponding price adjustments in machinery and equipment rental and electrical rough-in materials further dropped to -7.6 percent and -1.7 percent in October from their respective September rates of -5.6 percent and -0.6 percent. The negative annual rates recorded in plywood and exterior electrical equipment/supplies also contributed to the downtrend. Slower annual inflation rates were also observed in the prices of the following commodity groups: cement, 3.0 percent from 3.2 percent; lumber, 2.6 percent from 4.0 percent; hardware, 2.3 percent from 2.4 percent; PVC pipes, 2.0 percent from 2.5 percent; concrete products, 0.8 percent from 1.2 percent; G.I. sheets, 5.9 percent from 6.4 percent; and UPVC pipes, 0.1 percent from 1.3 percent. Meanwhile, annual additions were higher in the prices of sand, stone and gravel, wood products, fuels and lubricants and reinforcing steel while movements in the prices of plumbing fixtures and blasting materials continued to post zero growth rate. The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month's rates.

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  Source: National Statistics Office
  Manila, Philippines

  Page last revised: December 13, 2007