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 picked up to 160.8 and 164.8 in April from their respective March levels of 159.9 and 163.7.

   Seasonal factors such as the observance of the Lenten season and fiestas in many areas along with the extreme heat experienced in the country pushed down prices of FBT items in the two areas relative to the expected trend.

   Compared with March 2004, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR remained at 0.6 percent. Meanwhile, the increase in the prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in AONCR at 0.7 percent was slower than the 1.1 percent registered last month.

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 and AONCR posted at their corresponding April levels of 196.2 and 192.2 were higher than their respective previous month's levels of 194.9 and 191.6. Prices of non-FBT items in NCR were pushed up by the seasonal factors such as the observance of fiestas in many areas during the month. However, prices of non-FBT items in AONCR were pushed down by seasonal factors.

The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR accelerated to 0.7 percent in April from zero growth in March. In AONCR, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items moved at its last month's rate of 0.3 percent.

Page last updated: May 12, 2004