September 2005

r - revised
 

• Year-on-Year

  Year-on-year inflation rate of the General Wholesale Price Index (GWPI) at the national level advanced by 12.2 percent in September from 12.0 percent in August. Higher annual inflation rates were noted in the prices of beverages and tobacco, 7.8 percent in September from 7.5 percent in August; mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, 42.7 percent from 38.5 percent; machinery and transport equipment, 5.1 percent from 4.1 percent; and miscellaneous manufactured articles, 6.1 percent from 6.0 percent. On the other hand, inflation rates for food items and chemicals including animal and vegetable oils correspondingly slowed down to 4.6 percent and 11.1 percent from their respective August rates of 6.0 percent and 12.4 percent. Annual inflation for crude materials, inedible except fuels further declined to -2.1 percent from -1.9 percent. Inflation for manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials moved at its previous month's rate of 8.5 percent.

  • In Luzon, inflation rate slightly eased to 13.5 percent in September from 13.6 percent in August. Slower annual price gains were correspondingly observed in food items and chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats at 4.1 percent and 13.1 percent from 6.9 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, higher annual price increases were noted in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials and machinery and transport equipment at 44.8 percent and 6.1 percent from their respective last month's rates of 39.8 percent and 5.0 percent. Annual price movements for crude materials, inedible except fuels further dropped to -3.5 percent from -3.1 percent. Inflation for beverages and tobacco, manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials, and miscellaneous manufactured articles were at their corresponding August rates of 8.3 percent, 9.5 percent and 6.8 percent. 
     

  • Inflation rate in Visayas rose to 6.1 percent in September from 5.9 percent in August. This can be attributed to the higher annual rates seen in the prices of food items (3.0 percent from 2.5 percent) and beverages and tobacco (4.7 percent from 1.4 percent). Slower annual growths were however noticed in the prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (29.1 percent from 32.3 percent) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials (3.7 percent from 3.8 percent). Inflation for the rest of the commodity groups remained at their last month's positive rates. 
     

  • Inflation rate in Mindanao jumped by 2.2 percentage points to 8.1 percent in September from 5.9 percent in August. Higher inflation rates were posted in the prices of the following commodity groups: food items, 9.9 percent in September from 4.5 percent in August; crude materials, inedible except fuels, 17.8 percent from 14.1 percent; mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, 26.4 percent from 25.8 percent; machinery and transport equipment, 0.4 percent from -0.5 percent; and miscellaneous manufactured articles, 4.0 percent from 2.7 percent. Meanwhile, annual add-ons in the prices of chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials slowed to 4.9 percent and 4.1 percent from 6.0 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. Inflation rate for beverages and tobacco remained at 7.5 percent.

• By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

  The general level of wholesale prices moved at 0.4 percent in September, slower than 1.4 percent increase in August.

  • Prices of milled rice, tubers and root crops, meat products, fish and selected fruits and vegetables went down in Luzon. Thus, the food index in the area and in the Philippines decreased to -1.0 percent and -0.6 percent, respectively. On the other hand, increases in the prices of the same food items in Visayas and Mindanao raised their corresponding group's index by 0.9 percent and 0.1 percent. 
     

  • Increments in the prices of selected cigarettes in Luzon along with the upward adjustments in the prices of brewery products and liquors in Visayas pushed up the index of beverages and tobacco in the Philippines by 0.4 percent; Luzon, 0.1 percent; and Visayas, 3.2 percent. Prices of beverages and tobacco items in Mindanao remained stable during the month as the index recorded a zero growth. 
     

  • With higher prices of copra and abaca in Luzon, the index of crude materials inedible except fuels in the area grew by 0.5 percent. Likewise, price hikes in bamboo, firewood from bakawan and pulpwood caused the group's index in Mindanao to accelerate by 4.7 percent. In Visayas, the group's index registered a zero growth this month. The national index advanced by 0.6 percent. 
     

  • The continuous price additions in petroleum products and LPG raised the index for mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials in the four areas: Philippines, 2.1 percent; Luzon, 2.2 percent; Visayas, 1.3 percent; and Mindanao, 0.8 percent. 
     

  • Price hikes in paints, vitamins, laundry soap and other chemical products contributed to the 0.5 percent uptick in the index for chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats in Philippines and Luzon. Prices of chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats in Visayas and Mindanao generally remained stable as they recorded a zero growth during the month. 
     

  • Price reductions in plywood and other paper products in Luzon resulted to a 0.2 percent growth in the index for manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials and 0.1 percent in the Philippines. On the contrary, a 0.1 percent drop in the group's index was observed in Mindanao due to the decreases in the prices of bars, G.I. sheets, fabricated wires and paperboard. In Visayas, prices of manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials generally remained stable as its index posted a zero growth in September. 
     

  • Prices of cars and electrical wires in Luzon were up during the month. These brought up the index for machinery and transport equipment in the area by 0.5 percent. However, lower prices of selected electrical appliances pushed down the group's index in Mindanao by 0.1 percent. In Visayas, prices of machinery and transport equipment generally remained stable during the month as the group's index had a zero growth. Overall, the group's index picked up by 0.4 percent. 
     

  • Prices of miscellaneous manufactured articles in the Philippines, Luzon and Visayas generally remained stable as their index registered a zero growth during the month. Meanwhile, the group's index in Mindanao slightly went down by 0.1 percent.

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  Source: National Statistics Office
  Manila, Philippines
  
  Page last revised: January 11, 2006