The seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR and AONCR posted correspondingly at 132.0 and 135.5 in August were higher than their respective July levels of 131.2 and 135.3.

The global warm temperature, the prolonged dry spell experienced in recent months and the lean month of August resulted to high prices in some commodities such as rice, eggs, milk and milk products. In addition, the stormy conditions brought by the three typhoons during the month affected the delivery of vegetables from the production areas to wet markets in NCR thereby increasing their prices. All these seasonal factors generally pushed up prices of FBT items in the two areas relative to the expected trend.

Measured a month ago, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR moved up to 0.6 percent in August from 0.5 percent in July. Meanwhile additions in the prices of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in AONCR slowed to 0.1 percent from its previous month’s rate of 0.3 percent.