Food, Beverages and Tobacco (FBT) and Non-FBT Items
(NCR and AONCR - October 2008)

1. 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 items in NCR and AONCR correspondingly posted at 147.6 and 160.4 in October were lower than their respective September levels of 148.1 and 160.6.

   The difficulty in catching fish species that usually settle deep in the waters during the rainy season resulted to lower supply in the wet markets. This seasonal factor pushed up prices of FBT items in NCR. Meanwhile, this seasonal factor did not affect the overall prices of FBT items in AONCR relative to the expected trend as higher prices of these items were offsetted by the decreases in the prices of rice and corn.

   Compared with last month, the monthly rate of change of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR and AONCR dropped to -0.1 percent in October from 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

2. 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 grew to 164.6 in October from 164.0 in September while in AONCR, the index remained at its last month’s level of 159.6.

The preparation for the coming holiday season resulted to higher production of selected goods during the month. This seasonal factor however, did not raise 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 moved up by 0.4 percent in October from -0.1 percent in September. On the other hand, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in AONCR registered a zero growth during the month.

For technical notes and other related information,
please visit:
http://www.census.gov.ph
or contact the Economic Indicators and Indices Division, NSO
at telephone number 716-3935

Page last updated: November 5, 2008