1. A. CPI of Food, Beverages and Tobacco (FBT): National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)
   

   The seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT in NCR decreased to 130.2 in January from 130.3 in December. Likewise, the seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT in AONCR went down to 133.7 from last month's 134.0.

   Seasonal factors in January such as the cold weather condition brought lower production of eggs, thus raising their prices in NCR and AONCR. Prices of fish were also up in the two areas due to lower supply of marine fish brought about by reduced fishing trips during the cold mornings in the past few days. Moreover, bigger demand of fish was also observed as most consumers preferred more fish recipes after the holiday season. All these factors pushed up prices of FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

   Compared to last month, prices of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR and AONCR dropped to -0.1 percent and -0.2 percent, respectively.

2. B. CPI of Non-FBT items: National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)

The seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR posted correspondingly at 151.0 and 144.5 in January were higher than their respective December levels of 150.8 and 144.1. Seasonal factors such as the practice of implementing business changes at the beginning of the year like increasing rental rates in some selected regions pulled up prices of non- FBT items in the two areas relative to the expected trend.

On a monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR respectively climbed by 0.1 percent and 0.3 percent in January from -0.2 percent and zero growth in December.

Page last updated: February 6, 2007