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 150.5 and 155.3 in May from their respective April levels of 149.8 and 155.1.

   Seasonal factors such as the observance of fiestas in many areas that brought bigger demand of meat and other food items along with the heat experienced in the country pushed up prices of FBT items in NCR during the month. On the other hand, these seasonal factors did not pushed up prices of these items in AONCR relative to the expected trend.

   On a monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted FBT items in NCR increased to 0.5 percent in May from 0.2 percent in April while month-on-month inflation of these items in AONCR at 0.1 percent in May was slower than the 0.5 percent in April.

2. CPI of Non-FBT Items: National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)

The The seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR at their corresponding May levels of 186.0 and 179.9 were higher than their respective last month's levels of 184.8 and 178.8. Higher demand of some clothing items due to the observance of fiestas and the bigger demand of school supplies for the coming opening of classes were noted during the month. These seasonal factors however, did not pushed up prices of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR still remained at 0.6 percent in May. However, prices of non-FBT items in AONCR picked up to 0.6 percent in May from 0.4 percent in April.

Page Last Updated: June 10, 2002