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 was recorded at 162.2 in December and in AONCR at 179.6.

   Higher demand for meat and fish were observed during the holiday season. Likewise, the difficulty in catching fish species during the cold weather conditions resulted to its lower supply in the wet markets, thus increasing their prices. These seasonal factors pushed up prices of FBT items in NCR relative to the expected trend. However, these seasonal factors did not raise prices of FBT items in AONCR.

   On a monthly basis, price movement of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR was still negative at -0.3 percent in December from -0.7 percent in November. In AONCR, it went up at a slower rate of 0.1 percent from 0.3 percent.

2. CPI of Non-FBT items: National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)

For technical notes and other related information,
please visit:
http://www.census.gov.ph
or contact the Economic Indicators and Indices Division, NSO
at telephone number 716-3935