The rates for food, beverages and tobacco (FBT) increased to 13.2 percent in January 1999 from 11.2 percent in December 1998; clothing, 9.1 percent from 7.2 percent; housing and repairs (HR), 10.5 percent from 9.8 percent; and miscellaneous items, 9.3 percent from 8.9 percent. On the other hand, the rates for fuel, light and water (FLW) slowed down to 5.4 percent from 6.0 percent; and services, 10.5 percent from 11.6 percent.

On an annual basis, headline inflation rate in the Philippines went up by 0.5 percentage point to 7.6 percent in November from 7.1 percent in October. The uptrend of the inflation rate was primarily brought about by the 6.9 percentage points growth in the inflation of fuel, light and water (FLW). Higher inflation rates registered in clothing, services and miscellaneous items also contributed to the increase. Inflation a year ago was 3.2 percent.

Year-on-year headline inflation rate in the Philippines went up by 0.6 percentage point to 6.9 percent in September from 6.3 percent in August. Higher inflation rates of all the commodity groups except for clothing brought about the uptrend. Inflation a year ago was 2.9 percent.