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 in August remained at its July's level of 151.3 while that for AONCR, the level moved up to 157.2 from 156.0.

   Seasonal factors such as the stormy weather conditions that were experienced in August did not push up prices of FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. On the other hand, seasonal factors slightly pushed up prices of FBT items in AONCR during the month.

   The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT in NCR was zero in August from 0.5 percent in July, while that for AONCR, price increase of FBT items climbed to 0.8 percent from 0.3 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 rose to 184.2 and 181.0 in August from their respective July levels of 182.8 and 180.6. Seasonal factors such as the low demand for goods and services during the lean month of August pushed down prices of non-FBT items in NCR. Meanwhile, these seasonal factors did not push down prices of non-FBT items in AONCR during the month.

On a monthly basis, prices of seasonally adjusted Non-FBT items in NCR increased by 0.8 percent in August, up from -0.4 percent in July. However, price increase in AONCR slightly slowed down to 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent.

Page Last Updated: September 11, 2002