Food, Beverages and Tobacco (FBT) and Non-FBT Items
(NCR and AONCR - May 2010)

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 May moved at its April level of 154.7 while in AONCR, its level went down to 168.8 from 169.1.

   The start of the harvest season of palay in selected regions along with the prevalence of favorable weather conditions for catching fish species during the month pushed down prices of FBT items in the two areas relative to the expected trend.

   The monthly rate of change of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR registered a zero growth in May from -0.2 percent in April while that in AONCR dropped to -0.2 percent from 0.1 percent 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 posted at 168.5 in May was lower than its April level of 171.2. Meanwhile in AONCR, it picked up to 165.5 from its previous month’s level of 165.1.

Bigger production of school supplies and some clothing items for the election period and for the forthcoming opening of school classes did not affect prices of non-FBT items in NCR. However, this seasonal factor pushed down prices of non-FBT items in AONCR relative to the expected trend.

Compared to last month, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR recorded a negative rate of 1.6 percent in May from 1.1 percent in April. However, the increase in the prices of the seasonally adjusted CPI for non- FBT items in AONCR at 0.2 percent in May was slower than the 0.4 percent growth in April.

Page last updated: June 4, 2010