By Commodity Group, Year-on-Year

   By Region, Month-on-Month

   By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

• Mark-ups in the prices of consumer items in the country was at 0.8 percent in August from 0.3 percent in July. It resulted primarily from the higher monthly gain in food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 1.0 percent from 0.4 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index, 0.8 percent from 0.6 percent; and transport index, 0.6 percent from -0.4 percent. Monthly adjustments for the other commodity groups were either slower or remained at their July rates. A zero growth was noticed in the indices of communication, education and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services during the month.

  • The heavy rains brought by typhoon “Gener” during the last week of July in major vegetable producing areas resulted to low supply of vegetables in the markets. The devastating effects of the monsoon rains, floods and typhoons during the month in production areas in Central and Northern Luzon provinces also contributed to the reduced supplies of vegetables in the markets. All these conditions effected a double-digit increase of 21.0 percent in the vegetables index in NCR from its last month’s rate of 2.6 percent. Likewise, areas in AONCR affected by these weather disturbances had higher monthly increments in the prices of vegetables. Thus, the group’s index grew by 3.7 percent from 1.3 percent. At the national level, the vegetables index jumped 6.5 percent from 1.5 percent.

  • The stormy weather conditions experienced during the month which restricted fishing activities lowered supplies of fish species in the markets. This factor raised the fish index in the three areas: Philippines, 1.5 percent from 0.1 percent; NCR, 2.4 percent from 0.4 percent; and AONCR, 1.4 percent from 0.1 percent.

  • The positive growths recorded in the rice index in most of the regions resulted to a 0.4 percent uptick in the group’s index for AONCR. These were however slower than the 0.5 percent gain last month. In NCR, the rice index had a 1.3 percent growth from 0.1 percent as prices of NFA rice were priced higher during the month. The movement of the rice index in the country was at its last month’s rate of 0.5 percent.

  • The fruits index in the Philippines climbed 1.2 percent from 0.5 percent; NCR, 1.8 percent from -0.2 percent; and AONCR, 1.0 percent from 0.7 percent. This was due to the continuous price hikes in mango. Upward price adjustments in other fresh fruits such as banana, pineapple and papaya were also noted during the month.

  • The increasing prices of sugar pushed up the index for sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery at the national level by 1.4 percent; NCR, 2.2 percent; and AONCR, 1.3 percent. These were however slower than their respective last month’s rates of 3.1 percent, 2.4 percent and 3.2 percent.

  • With the increments in the prices of fresh meat such as chicken, pork and beef in selected regions, the meat index at in the three areas rose 0.2 percent. Price gains in processed and canned meat were also registered in some regions.

  • The downward price trend in cooking oil in many regions resulted to the negative rates still posted in the oils and fats index in the three areas: Philippines, -0.7 percent; NCR, -2.4 percent; and AONCR, -0.2 percent.

• The continuous escalation in the prices of LPG and kerosene in many regions along with the higher charges on electricity rates in NCR and in selected regions pushed the index of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at the national level by 0.8 percent; NCR, 1.2 percent; and AONCR, 0.6 percent.

• The transport index in the Philippines and AONCR went up 0.6 percent and NCR, 0.8 percent. This can be attributed to the series of nationwide upward price adjustments in gasoline and diesel.

• Increased salary of household help in NCR and in some regions were noted during the month. Price hikes in selected appliances were also recorded in some regions. Hence, the index of furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of house in NCR grew 1.7 percent and AONCR. 0.1 percent. At the national level, the group’s index posted a 0.5 percent growth.

1. The second phase survey report for Cagayan was not received as of September 4, 2012.

2. CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are also available upon request at NSO, Industry and Trade Statistics Department, Economic Indices and Indicators Division (Telephone Numbers: 716-39-35 and 715-33-47).