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 went up to 153.3 in August from 152.8 in July. On the other hand, the seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in AONCR slightly decreased to 159.2 from 159.4.

   Seasonal factors such as the bad weather conditions that were experienced in August pulled down prices of FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. However, these seasonal factors pushed up prices of FBT items in AONCR.

   The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR grew by 0.3 percent in August from 1.6 percent in July while that for AONCR, prices of non-FBT items dropped to 0.1 percent from its last month's rate of 0.1 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 picked up to 195.0 and 188.2 in August from their respective July levels of 193.1 and 187.5. Seasonal factors such as the low demand of goods and services during the lean month of August pushed down prices of non-FBT items in NCR. The same seasonal factors however pushed up prices of non-FBT items in AONCR during the month.

On a monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted non-FBT items in NCR increased to 1.0 percent in August from 0.5 percent in July. Meanwhile, prices of seasonally adjusted non-FBT items in AONCR moved up but at a slower rate of 0.4 percent from 0.5 percent.

Page last updated: September 10, 2003