Food, Beverages and Tobacco (FBT) and Non-FBT Items
(NCR and AONCR - March 2009)

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 in NCR and AONCR correspondingly went up to 151.6 and 163.9 in March from their respective February levels of 151.0 and 162.8.

   Seasonal factors such as prevalence of favorable weather conditions during the month resulted to sufficient supply of fish and vegetables in the markets in NCR and AONCR. The abundant supply of tropical fruits in season was also noted during the period. These seasonal factors generally pushed down prices of FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

   The seasonally adjusted month-on-month inflation of FBT items in NCR moved up to 1.1 percent in March from 0.7 percent in February while that for AONCR slowed down to 0.7 percent from previous month’s rate of 0.9 percent.

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 decreased to 158.6 in March from 159.1 in February while that of AONCR remained at its February level of 156.5. Higher demand of selected clothing and footwear items for the graduation season did not pull up prices of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

The monthly rate of change of the seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR declined by -0.3 percent in March from 0.4 percent growth in February. However, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in AONCR registered a zero growth in March from the last month’s rate of 0.6 percent.

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: April 7, 2009