YEAR-ON-YEAR
Philippines
The headline inflation at the national level decelerated to 3.1 percent in May 2017. It was registered at 3.4 percent in the previous month and 1.6 percent in May 2016. Slower annual increments were posted in the indices of the following commodity groups:
- Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (3.8%)
- Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (6.1%)
- Clothing and Footwear (2.2%)
- Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House (2.3%)
- Health (2.4%)
- Transport (2.7%)
- Communication (0.2%), and
- Recreation and Culture (1.4%)
The index for restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services however, moved up at a faster pace of 1.6 pecent while the indices for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels and education retained their previous month’s rates of 3.6 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively. (Tables 6 and 8)
Excluding selected food and energy items, core inflation likewise eased to 2.9 percent in May 2017. It was pegged at 3.0 percent in the previous month and 1.5 percent in May 2016. (Table 15)
The annual gain of the food alone index in the Philippines slowed down to 3.8 percent in May 2017. In the previous month, it was recorded at 4.3 percent and in May 2016, 2.4 percent. (Table 13)
Annual declines were still noted in the indices of corn at -0.8 percent and sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery, -1.4 percent. Moreover, lower annual increases were observed in the indices of fish at 8.0 percent; milk,cheese and egg, 2.5 percent; oils and fats, 6.6 percent; and vegetables, 4.0 percent. All the other food groups had higher annual rates. (Table 10)
Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in the Philippines, All Items January 2012 - May 2017 (2006=100) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Year | |||||
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
Jan | 4.0 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 2.7 |
Feb | 2.7 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 3.3 |
Mar | 2.6 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 3.4 |
Apr | 3.0 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.4 |
May | 3.0 | 2.6 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.1 |
Jun | 2.9 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 1.9 | |
Jul | 3.2 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | |
Aug | 3.8 | 2.1 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 1.8 | |
Sep | 3.7 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 2.3 | |
Oct | 3.2 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 0.4 | 2.3 | |
Nov | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 2.5 | |
Dec | 3.0 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.6 | |
Ave | 3.2 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 1.8 |
National Capital Region (NCR)
Inflation in NCR further slowed down to 3.7 percent in May 2017. Inflation stood at 3.9 percent in the previous month and 1.0 percent in May 2016. Lower annual growths were seen in the indices of the following commodity groups:
- Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages (6.1%)
- Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (8.1%)
- Clothing and Footwear (2.3%)
- Transport (2.8%)
- Recreation and Culture (2.5%)
On the other hand, higher annual gains were observed in the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 3.1 percent; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 2.7 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.0 percent. Growth rates in the other commodity groups remained at their previous month’s levels. (Tables 6 and 8)
Areas Outside NCR (AONCR)
The same trend was also noted in the inflation in AONCR as it slowed down to 3.0 percent in May 2017. In the previous month, it settled to 3.3 percent and in May 2016, 1.7 percent. All the commodity groups exhibited lower annual hikes except for the indices of education and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and serivces which retained their previous month’s rates. (Tables 6 and 8)
All the regions showed lower annual growths during the month except CAR. The lowest inflation of 1.4 percent was recorded in MIMAROPA while the highest remained in Bicol Region at 5.1 percent. (Table 8)
MONTH-ON-MONTH
The national month-on-month growth of consumer prices eased to 0.1 percent in May 2017. In the previous month, it went up by 0.2 percent. The indices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and transport both declined by 0.2 percent. Meanwhile, alcoholic beverages and tobacco posted a higher rate of 0.3 percent during the month. From a zero growth in the previous month, the indices of recreation and culture and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services likewise increased by 0.1 percent. That for communication index registered zero growth from 0.1 percent in the previous month. The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s rates. (Table 7)
Lower prices of petroleum products such as LPG, kerosene, gasoline and diesel were noted in many provinces. Downward adjustments in the charges for electricity rates were also recorded in NCR and in many provinces.
On the other hand, higher prices of selected food items such as rice, corn, meat, margarine, some spices and seasonings were noticed during the month. Moreover, higher prices of selected items for personal care and effects were observed in NCR and some provinces.
Note: CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are also available upon request at Philippine Statistics Authority, Economic Sector Statistics Service, Price Statistics Division (Telephone Number: 376-19-59).
FOR THE NATIONAL STATISTICIAN:
(Sgd) JOSIE B. PEREZ
Assistant Secretary
Deputy National Statistician, CTCO
Officer-in-Charge