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 increased to 151.0 in December from 149.3 in November. On the other hand, the seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in AONCR declined to 156.7 in December from 156.9 last month.

   Seasonal factors such as the cold months and the bigger demand brought about by the holiday season raised prices of FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. However, prices of FBT items in AONCR were not affected by these seasonal factors.

   On a monthly basis, prices of the seasonally adjusted FBT items in NCR grew by 1.1 percent in December from -0.2 percent in November. In AONCR, prices of seasonally adjusted FBT items continued to register a negative growth of 0.1 percent, slightly faster than the -0.2 percent registered last month.

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 went up to 187.7 and 183.2 in December from their respective November levels of 186.5 and 182.7. Seasonal factors such as the production of selected goods for the holiday season resulting to adequate supply of goods in the markets continued to push down prices of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR.

The month-on-month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR picked up by 0.6 percent in December from 0.4 percent in November. Meanwhile, for AONCR, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items still remained at 0.3 percent.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines

Page Last Updated: January 10, 2003