Month-on-Month Growth Rates

At the national level, the seasonally adjusted CPI for all items grew by 0.2 percent in August from a zero growth in July. Higher monthly increments were recorded in the indices of furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.2 percent in August from 0.1 percent in July; recreation and culture index, 0.1 percent from zero growth; and education index, 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent. On the other hand, the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index declined by 0.1 percent from -0.2 percent. Moreover, the clothing and footwear index moved up at a slower pace of 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent. The alcoholic beverages and tobacco index retained its last month’s rate of 0.8 percent and health index, 0.1 percent.

The lean season of August pushed up the indices of all items; clothing and footwear; health; recreation and culture; and education relative to the expected trend. However, the alcoholic beverages and tobacco index was pulled down by this seasonal factor during the month. The indices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services indices were not affected by this seasonal factor.

In NCR, the month-on-month change of the seasonally adjusted CPI for education went up by 0.4 percent in August from zero growth in July. On the contrary, the transport index dropped by 0.3 percent from -0.4 percent while movements in alcoholic beverages and tobacco index remained at 0.4 percent; non-food index, -0.1 percent; and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 0.1 percent.

Relative to the expected trend, the seasonal factor experienced during the lean month of August raised the indices of non-food; transport; and education. Meanwhile, this seasonal factor pushed down the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house.

In AONCR, higher monthly gains were posted in recreation and culture index at 0.1 percent in August from -0.1 percent in July and education index, 0.5 percent from zero growth. The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index, however, decreased by 0.2 percent. Likewise, the monthly growth in alcoholic beverages and tobacco index slowed to 0.5 percent from 0.6 percent and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent. Movements in the clothing and footwear and health indices remained at 0.1 percent and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house index, 0.2 percent.

The lean month of August advanced the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; recreation and culture; and education relative to the expected trend. On the other hand, this seasonal factor pulled down the alcoholic beverages and tobacco index while it did not affect the indices of clothing and footwear; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; health and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services.