Date Released: October 5, 2011
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
for
BOTTOM 30% INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
(2000=100)
FIRST QUARTER 2011
|
First Quarter 2011 |
Fourth Quarter 2010 |
4.6 |
3.2 |
|
NCR |
4.0 |
2.0 |
AONCR |
4.6 |
3.2 |
Similarly, inflation in NCR increased to 4.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 2.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. This was effected by higher annual increments in food, beverages and tobacco (FBT), H&R and services index during the quarter.
Inflation in Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR) went up to 4.6 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. This was attributed to the higher annual adjustments in FBT, clothing, fuel, light and water (FLW) and services index.
|
First Quarter 2011 |
Fourth Quarter 2010 |
3.0 |
0.5 |
|
NCR |
2.0 |
0.9 |
AONCR |
3.0 |
0.5 |
The quarter-to-quarter inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the Philippines accelerated to 3.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 0.5 percent in the last quarter of 2010. Price hikes in food items particularly vegetables, fruits, fish, cooking oil and sugar were posted during the quarter.
Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in the Philippines, All Items
First Quarter 2007 - First Quarter 2011
Quarter |
Year |
||||
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
First Quarter |
3.5 |
6.8 |
12.4 |
4.2 |
4.6 |
Second Quarter |
2.8 |
14.3 |
5.4 |
3.5 |
|
Third Quarter |
2.7 |
19.4 |
0.2 |
3.7 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
4.0 |
15.2 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
|
Average |
3.2 |
13.9 |
5.1 |
3.6 |
|
- By Region, Year-on-Year
Inflation in NCR picked up to 4.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 2.0 percent in fourth quarter of 2010.
Likewise, inflation in AONCR at 4.6 percent during the quarter was higher than the 3.2 percent growth in the last quarter of 2010. Except in ARMM, all the regions recorded higher inflation rates. The highest average inflation for the quarter was in Western Visayas at 6.0 percent while the lowest was in Ilocos at 3.1 percent.
- By Commodity Group, Year-on-Year
The quarterly year-on-year increment in FBT index in the Philippines was higher at 4.7 percent in the first quarter 2011 from its last quarter rate of 3.1 percent; clothing, 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent; FLW, 9.2 percent from 6.7 percent; services, 2.4 percent from 1.8 percent; and miscellaneous, 1.7 percent from 1.6 percent. Quarterly average inflation in H&R index remained at its previous rate of 1.7 percent.
In NCR, the annual adjustment in FBT index picked up to 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 0.7 percent in the previous quarter; H&R, 2.6 percent from 2.3 percent; and services, 2.1 percent from 1.2 percent. Meanwhile, the rest of the commodity groups have either slower annual inflation rates or remained at their previous quarter’s rate.
In AONCR, the annual change in FBT index was higher at 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 3.2 percent in the last quarter of 2010; clothing, 2.1 percent from 1.9 percent; FLW, 9.1 percent from 6.5 percent; and services, 2.4 percent from 1.8 percent. Meanwhile, the rest of the commodity groups moved at their respective previous quarter’s rates.
The inflation in the heavily weighted food alone index at the national level accelerated to 4.8 percent during the quarter from 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Annual hike in rice index was higher at 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 1.6 percent in last quarter of 2010; corn, 2.5 percent from -1.0 percent; cereal preparations, 4.4 percent from 3.3 percent; dairy products, 1.4 percent from 1.2 percent; fish, 5.1 percent from 2.0 percent; and fruits and vegetables, 8.8 percent from -0.5 percent. On the other hand, slower annual increment was posted in eggs index at 2.5 percent from 3.2 percent; meat, 1.0 percent from 3.4 percent; and miscellaneous foods, 11.6 percent from 13.7 percent.
The annual increase for food alone index in NCR went up to 3.3 percent in the first quarter of the year from 0.6 percent in fourth quarter of 2010. This was mainly due to the double-digit annual change noted in fruits and vegetables index at 13.7 percent from -14.8 percent. In addition, quarterly average annual uptick in cereal preparations index was also higher at 2.5 percent from 2.3 percent; dairy products, 0.9 percent from 0.6 percent; and miscellaneous foods, 6.9 percent from 5.9 percent. The rest of the commodity groups recorded slower `annual growths with the meat index posting negative rate.
The food alone index in AONCR rose to 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter last year.
The annual gain in the rice index was higher at 2.3 percent during the quarter from 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Nine regions posted higher annual inflation with the biggest jump of 3.4 percentage points noticed in Cagayan Valley (2.8% from -0.6%) and Western Visayas (7.1% from 3.7%).
The annual rate of increment was also higher in corn index at 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from -1.0 percent in the previous quarter; cereal preparations, 4.4 percent from 3.4 percent; dairy products, 1.4 percent from 1.2 percent; fish, 5.1 percent from 2.0 percent; and fruits and vegetables, 8.8 percent from -0.3 percent. The rest of the food groups however recorded slower rates.
- By Region, Quarter-to-Quarter
Compared with a quarter ago level, consumer prices in NCR went up to 2.0 percent in the first quarter 2011 from its previous quarter growth of 0.9 percent. All the commodity groups have higher quarterly average inflation except in H&R index whose rate decelerated to 0.8 percent from 1.2 percent.
Prices of consumer items in AONCR advanced by 3.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 due to higher upticks observed in all the commodity groups.
Higher quarterly growth rates were seen in all the regions except in Cagayan Valley. The highest rate at 5.1 percent was seen in Northern Mindanao while the lowest was in Ilocos and Eastern Visayas at 1.9 percent.
Among the three big areas of the country, price upticks in consumer items on quarterly basis in Mindanao were faster compared to Luzon and Visayas areas.
- By Commodity Group, Quarter-to-Quarter
On a quarterly basis, prices of consumer items in the Philippines picked up to 3.0 percent in the first quarter 2011 from 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter 2010 as all the commodity groups posted higher quarterly growth rates.
The general upward price adjustments of LPG and kerosene during the quarter raised the FLW index in the Philippines by 5.3 percent; NCR, 6.2 percent; and AONCR, 5.2 percent. Higher prices of candles and increased charges for electricity rates in some regions were also recorded during the quarter.
The services index in the Philippines and AONCR respectively climbed by 1.1 percent and 1.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from 0.2 percent in the previous quarter and in NCR, 1.3 percent from 0.1 percent. This was brought about by the price hikes in gasoline and diesel nationwide and higher land transport fares in most of the regions including NCR.
With increments in the prices for some items for household operations and personal care and effects, the miscellaneous items index in the Philippines and AONCR went up by 0.6 percent during the quarter and in NCR, 0.3 percent.
The double-digit quarterly growths in the prices of potato and the pinakbet vegetables such as bitter gourd, stringbeans, eggplant and squash raised the corresponding fruits and vegetables index in the Philippines and AONCR by 6.4 percent and 6.5 percent during the first quarter of 2011 from their respective last quarter’s growths of 2.2 percent and 2.1 percent. The continuous heavy rains in Bicol, Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions during the months of January and February lowered production of vegetables, thereby increasing their prices. Prices of selected fruits also generally went up during the quarter. On the other hand, the increase in the volume of supplies of vegetables and in-season fruits in February and March in NCR markets pulled down their prices. Hence, the quarterly hike in the fruits and vegetables index in the area decelerated to 2.2 percent in the first quarter 2011 from 7.5 percent in the previous quarter.
The difficulty in catching fish species in the cold mornings in January and February lowered their volume of supply in the markets. This factor pushed up the fish index in the three areas during the quarter: Philippines and AONCR, 5.1 percent from 0.5 percent and NCR, 4.1 percent from 2.6 percent.
Prices of corn in the Philippines and AONCR increased by 6.0 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from -2.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. This was due to its low supply in the markets. Meanwhile, prices of corn in NCR continued to register negative quarterly rate at -0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from -0.6 percent in the previous quarter.
With higher quarterly growths in the prices of rice in all the regions except in Central Visayas, the index of rice in the Philippines grew by 2.1 percent during the first quarter of the year and in AONCR, 2.2 percent. The highest quarterly rate of 5.5 percent was posted in Western Visayas. The price reductions in NFA rice in NCR resulted to a decline in its rice index during the quarter at -1.4 percent from 0.8 percent.
Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines
Page last updated: October 5, 2011