March 2011

• Month-on-Month

  The wholesale price index of selected construction materials in the National Capital Region (NCR) further went up to 2.4 percent in March from 1.2 percent in February. This can be attributed to a higher increment posted in the index of fuels and lubricants at 6.8 percent in March from 2.1 percent in February; sand and gravel, 1.6 percent from 0.2 percent; concrete products, 1.7 percent from 0.8 percent; cement, 0.2 percent from 0.1 percent; plywood, 2.5 percent from 2.0 percent; lumber, 2.9 percent from 0.9 percent; reinforcing steel, 2.5 percent from 1.8 percent; doors, jambs and steel casement, 2.6 percent from 1.9 percent; electrical works, 1.8 percent from 1.5 percent; and painting works, 1.4 percent from 0.5 percent. From zero growth, the indexes of the following commodity groups also went up during the month: hardware (1.2%); G.I. sheet (0.4%); glass and glass products (0.8%) and PVC pipes (0.5%). Meanwhile, slower rates were registered in the indexes of structural steel, tileworks and plumbing fixtures and accessories. The monthly change in the indexes of asphalt and machinery and transport equipment rental was zero.
  

• Year-on-Year

  The annual growth rate of the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in NCR rose to 6.9 percent in March from 5.1 percent in February. Upward annual adjustments were recorded in the indexes of sixteen commodity groups with the index of fuels and lubricants registering the biggest jump of 4.3 percentage points (16.2% from 11.9%). On the other hand, annual gain in glass and glass products index slowed down to 1.8 percent from 2.1 percent. The same annual rate of 4.1 percent was noted in the index of G.I. sheet while that for machinery and equipment rental index was zero.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines

Page last revised: April 16, 2011