January 2008

• Month-on-Month

            The Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) posted a 1.4 percent growth in January from 0.1 percent in December due to the increments recorded in the prices of twelve commodity groups from their previous month's zero growth. Likewise, higher price add-on was observed in plywood at 0.5 percent in January from 0.2 percent in December. Price hike in hardware continued as it went up at its last month's rate of 1.4 percent. On the other hand, price increase was slower in fuels and lubricants at 0.3 percent from 2.2 percent. Negative growth rates were correspondingly noticed in exterior electrical equipment/supplies and machinery and equipment rental at -0.9 percent and -1.0 percent, respectively. Prices for the other commodity groups generally remained stable as they registered zero growth in January. 
   

• Year-on-Year

            The annual inflation rate of the CMWPI in NCR accelerated to 4.3 percent in January from 3.5 percent in December. This can be attributed to the higher annual gains noted in the prices of sand, stone and gravel, wood products, hardware, metal pipes, concrete products, plumbing fixtures, paints, reinforcing and structural steel, interior electrical fixtures and devices, tileworks and electrical rough-in materials. Slower annual price movements were however seen in the prices of cement, lumber, fuels and lubricants, glass and glass products, and G.I. sheets. Meanwhile, annual corresponding price reductions in exterior electrical equipment/supplies and machinery and equipment rental were at -3.1 percent and -0.2 percent from -3.5 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month's rates while inflation for plywood and blasting materials was zero.

   

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  Source:    National Statistics Office
                    Manila, Philippines
  
  Page last revised:   February 27, 2008