Philippines

At the national level, the seasonally adjusted CPI for all items dropped by 0.1 percent in April 2020, from a monthly increase of 0.1 percent in March 2020.

The indices of non-food; and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels went down further by 0.6 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively, from their previous month’s rate of -0.3 percent. Also, the monthly increments decelerated in the indices of clothing and footwear, and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent; and in furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 0.2 percent from 0.7 percent.

On the other hand, the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco both moved up at a faster pace of 0.8 percent in April 2020 from their respective previous month’s rates of 0.5 percent and 0.6 percent. Meanwhile, the indices for health; recreation and culture; and education still recorded a 0.2 percent growth during the month.

Seasonal factor like the degree of demand on selected goods during the season pushed up the indices of the following commodity groups:

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
• Non-food;
• Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels; and
• Furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house.

This seasonal factor, however, pushed down the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages; health; recreation and culture; and education. The indices for all items; clothing and footwear; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services were not affected by this seasonal factor. (Table 1)
 

National Capital Region (NCR)

In NCR, the seasonally adjusted CPI for alcoholic beverages and tobacco picked up at a higher rate of 0.5 percent in April 2020, from 0.3 percent in March 2020. The index of health also went up by 0.2 percent during the month from a zero growth in the previous month.

Meanwhile, slower monthly increases were registered in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 0.4 percent, from 0.5 percent; clothing and footwear, 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent; and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 0.3 percent from 1.7 percent. Moreover, the index of non-food dropped further by 0.5 percent, from -0.3 percent in the previous month. A zero growth was both recorded in the indices of recreation and culture, and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services from their corresponding previous month’s rates of 0.1 percent and -0.3 percent. The index of education, however, retained its previous month’s growth rate of 0.3 percent.

The seasonal factor such as the degree of demand for selected goods during the season pushed up the indices of the following commodity groups:

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
• Non-food;
• Furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; and
• Restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services.

On the other hand, this seasonal factor pushed down the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages; health; recreation and culture; and education. This seasonal factor did not affect the index of clothing and footwear. (Table 2)

Areas Outside National Capital Region (AONCR)

In AONCR, the seasonally adjusted CPI for all items settled to zero growth in April 2020, from a 0.1 percent increment in March 2020. On the other hand, a higher increase of 0.9 percent was both registered in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco, from their previous month’s rates of 0.2 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.

The indices of furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house and recreation and culture, however, both moved up at a slower pace of 0.2 percent in April 2020, from their respective previous month’s rates of 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent. Likewise, the increment in the index of restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services slowed down to 0.1 percent, from 0.2 percent.

In addition, further decreases were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups:

• Noon-food, -0.7 percent from -0.2 percent;
• Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, -0.7 percent from -0.3.percent; and
• Transport, - 3.7 percent from 1.3 percent.

Furthermore, the indices of health and education maintained their previous month’s rates of 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

The seasonal factor during the season pushed down the indices of the following commodity groups:

• All items;
• Food and non-alcoholic beverages;
• Recreation and culture; and
• Education.

This seasonal factor, however, pushed up the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco; non-food; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels; and transport. Meanwhile, the indices of furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; health; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services were not affected by this seasonal factor. (Table 3)

See more at the Seasonally Adjusted Consumer Price Index main page.