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 164.4 and 171.4 in October from their respective September levels of 163.6 and 170.6.

   The seasonal factor like the on-going harvest season of palay in many provinces resulted to lower prices of rice in AONCR. However, this seasonal factor did not pull down the price of rice in NCR relative to the expected trend.

   On a monthly basis, seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR moved up at 0.5 percent in October, same rate posted in September. Likewise, prices of seasonally adjusted FBT items in AONCR increased but at a slower rate of 0.5 percent from 0.6 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 correspondingly accelerated to 206.6 and 202.0 in October from 205.7 and 200.8 in September. The production of selected goods in preparation for the holiday season resulting to adequate supply of goods in the market slightly pull down prices of non-FBT items in NCR. On the other hand, this seasonal factor did not bring down their prices in AONCR.

The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR decelerated to 0.4 percent and 0.6 percent in October from 0.7 percent and 0.8 percent in September.

Page last updated: November 10, 2004