Inflation in the food alone index in the Philippines jumped to 5.4 percent during the fourth quarter from 5.0 percent in the third quarter of 2011 due to the 4.4 percentage points increment in the annual growth of the fruits and vegetables index (12.2% from 7.8%). Annual change in rice index also went up to 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 from 2.8 percent in the previous quarter; corn index, 15.5 percent from 13.2 percent; dairy products index, 2.6 percent from 2.3 percent; eggs index, 3.2 percent from 2.9 percent; fish index, 9.4 percent from 7.9 percent; and meat index, 2.0 percent from 1.4 percent. While the annual inflation in cereal preparations index decelerated to 5.8 percent from 6.5 percent, the miscellaneous foods index declined by -1.1 percent from 2.5 percent.

The 2011 annual average inflation for food alone index was 5.1 percent compared to 3.5 percent in 2010.

The annual average inflation in FBT index climbed to 5.1 percent in 2011 from 3.5 percent in 2010; clothing and services index, 2.5 percent and 3.7 percent from 2.1 percent; H&R and miscellaneous index, 2.1 percent from 1.5 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively; and FLW index, 10.5 percent from 8.7 percent.

The annual hike for food alone index in NCR went up to 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter from 2.6 percent in the third quarter of 2011.

Quarterly annual gain in the corn index increased to 2.1 percent from 0.8 percent. Moreover, the quarterly annual rate in the cereal preparations index grew to 3.9 percent from 3.6 percent; dairy products, 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent; fish, 5.3 percent from 4.7 percent; and fruits and vegetables index, 20.7 percent from 7.9 percent. The rest of the food groups however either posted slower or negative annual rates.

The annual average inflation for food alone index accelerated to 3.2 percent in 2011 from 1.9 percent in 2010.

The annual average inflation for FBT index in NCR gained 3.3 percent in 2011 from 1.9 percent in 2010; H&R index, 2.2 percent from 1.6 percent; and services index, 3.6 percent from 1.1 percent. Meanwhile, annual average inflation for the clothing index eased to 0.9 percent in 2011 from 1.5 percent in 2010; FLW, 10.5 percent from 14.3 percent; and miscellaneous index, 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent.

The food alone index in AONCR picked up to 5.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 from 5.0 percent in the third quarter.

The annual increment in the rice index went up to 3.1 percent from 3.0 percent as ten regions recorded higher annual rates. The biggest jump of 2.9 percentage points was noted in Western Mindanao (3.0% from 0.1%).

The annual change in corn index also advanced to 15.5 percent in the fourth quarter from 13.2 percent in the third quarter; dairy products, 2.6 percent from 2.2 percent; eggs, 3.3 percent from 3.0 percent; fish, 9.4 percent from 7.9 percent; and fruits and vegetables, 12.1 percent from 7.8 percent; and meat, 2.0 percent from 1.4 percent. The rest of the food groups displayed slower annual rates except in miscellaneous foods index whose annual rate decreased by -1.2 percent from 2.5 percent.

The annual average inflation in the food alone index in AONCR increased by 1.6 percentage points to 5.2 percent in 2011 from 3.6 percent in 2010.

Compared with last year, annual average inflation for FBT index moved up to 5.1 percent in 2011 from 3.5 percent in 2010; clothing, 2.6 percent from 2.0 percent; H&R, 2.0 percent from 1.5 percent; FLW, 10.6 percent from 8.5 percent; services, 3.7 percent from 2.2 percent; and miscellaneous, 2.1 percent from 2.0 percent.

The difficulty of catching fish brought about by the inclement weather condition particularly in areas that were hit by the two typhoons (Pedring & Quiel) resulted to lower supplies in the markets in October. Higher demand for sea foods and selected fish species for the Christmas and New Year celebration greatly contributed to the uptrend. Thus, the fish index gained in the three areas: Philippines and AONCR, 1.9 percent from 0.6 percent; and in NCR, 3.2 percent from -0.7 percent.

Supplies of fresh vegetables significantly dropped in the markets after the two typhoons hit the major vegetable producing areas in Luzon, thus raising the prices of vegetables in the markets. Moreover, continuous upward price adjustments of off-season fresh fruits particularly mango also contributed to the uptick. These factors contributed to the increase in the fruits and vegetables index in the Philippines at 6.4 percent from 1.9 percent, NCR, 20.3 percent from 5.2 percent and in AONCR, 6.2 percent from 1.9 percent.

With lower quarterly movements in the prices of rice in twelve regions including NCR, the index of rice in NCR and AONCR decreased by -0.6 percent from their respective rates of -2.8 percent and 0.5 percent; and in the Philippines, -0.5 percent from 0.4 percent. The lowest quarterly rate of -3.3 percent was noted in Western Visayas.

Lower prices of corn effected a -0.2 percent drop in the corn index in the Philippines and AONCR from their previous quarter’s rate of 3.2 percent and in NCR, 0.7 percent from 1.1 percent.

The price decrease in pork in NCR primarily pushed down the meat index in the area by -0.6 percent and in the Philippines, -0.1 percent. Meanwhile, the meat index in AONCR had a zero growth during the quarter due to the mixed price movements of meat among the regions.

The continued price reductions in sugar and selected spices and seasonings in many regions including NCR resulted to the -1.0 percent decline in the quarterly rate of the miscellaneous foods index in the three areas.