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 162.3 and 168.6 in July from their respective June levels of 161.9 and 167.3.

   Seasonal factors such as the start of the lean season for palay production pushed up the price of rice in AONCR during the month. In addition, difficulty in catching fish during the rainy season also raised their prices in many regions. However, these seasonal factors generally did not affect prices of FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend.

   Compared to last month, inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR slowed down to 0.2 percent from 0.5 percent while that for AONCR picked up to 0.8 percent from 0.7 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 and AONCR at 203.1 and 198.2 respectively were higher than their corresponding June levels of 201.9 and 196.2. The lean season pushed up prices of non-FBT items in the two areas.

On a monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR increased at 0.6 percent and 0.1 percent in July. These were slower than their respective last month growth rates of 1.8 percent and 1.4 percent.

Page last updated: August 10, 2004