Year-on-Year

The annual growth in the General Retail Price Index (GRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased to 3.4 percent in August from 2.0 percent in July. Higher annual gains were posted in six commodity groups. On the other hand, the same previous month's rate of 9.3 percent was observed in the index of crude materials, inedible except fuels while an annual decline of -1.0 percent was observed in mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index.

Month-on-Month

On a monthly basis, the change in the GRPI in NCR advanced to 1.3 percent in August from 0.3 percent in July. Higher monthly add-ons were seen in the food index at 2.7 percent in August from 0.9 percent in July; mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials index, 4.8 percent from -1.9 percent; manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials index and machinery and transport equipment index, 0.1 percent from zero growth and -0.4 percent, respectively; and miscellaneous manufactured articles index, 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent. The rest of the commodity groups had slower monthly upticks.

Price increases were noted in chicken eggs, beef, fresh fish, selected fruits, fresh vegetables and sugar. Moreover, price hikes in petroleum products such as gasoline, LPG, diesel fuel and kerosene together with price increments in selected ready-made clothing and leather footwear also contributed to the uptrend.