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 and AONCR correspondingly recorded at 122.1 and 125.9 in September were higher than their respective August levels of 121.2 and 125.3.

   Seasonal factors such as the inclement weather condition caused by tropical depression in the northern part of the country and the heavy downpour experienced during the latter part of the month generally pushed up prices of FBT items AONCR relative to the expected trend. However, these seasonal factors did not push up prices of FBT items in NCR.

   The month-on month inflation of the seasonally adjusted CPI on FBT items in NCR rose to 0.7 percent in September from 0.2 percent in August while that for AONCR remained at 0.5 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 went up to 141.7 in September from 141.2 in August. Likewise, the seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in AONCR increased to 135.7 from 134.9. The lean month of September pulled down prices of non-FBT items in NCR. However, this seasonal factor pulled up prices of non-FBT items in AONCR relative to the expected trend.

Compared with August 2005, prices of the seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR slowed down to 0.4 percent in September from 0.9 percent. Meanwhile, prices of non-FBT items in AONCR grew to 0.6 percent from 0.4 percent.