Month-on-Month

The Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded a zero growth in May from 1.0 percent in April as prices of sixteen (16) commodity groups remained stable during the month. Increases in the prices of fuels and lubricants and concrete products correspondingly slowed to 2.5 percent and 0.1 percent in May from their respective April rates of 3.5 percent and 0.5 percent. Moreover, price reductions were noted in cement at -0.2 percent from 0.3 percent; structural steel, -0.4 percent from 5.2 percent; interior electrical fixtures and devices and electrical rough-in materials, -0.3 percent from 0.6 percent; and exterior electrical equipment/supplies and tileworks, -1.3 percent and -0.9 percent, respectively from zero growth. On the other hand, price increase on paints was still at its last month�s rate of 0.1 percent. 
 

Year-on-Year

The annual inflation rate of the CMWPI in NCR decelerated to 4.5 percent in May from 5.1 percent in April. This can be attributed to the slower annual movements in the prices of ten (10) commodity groups. In addition, annual corresponding price decreases in plywood and fuels and lubricants were at -1.1 percent and -3.3 percent from -0.7 percent and -1.2 percent, respectively. However, higher annual gains were seen in the prices of paints and G.I. sheets. The rest of the commodity groups retained their last month�s rates while inflation in asphalt, blasting materials and machinery and equipment rental was zero.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines

Page last revised: July 18, 2007