Food, Beverages and Tobacco (FBT) and Non-FBT Items
(NCR and AONCR - March 2011)

A. CPI of Food, Beverages and Tobacco (FBT): National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)

The seasonally adjusted CPI of FBT items in NCR registered at 160.0 in March was lower than its February level of 160.4. However in AONCR, its level went up to 176.4 from 175.8 last month.

Seasonal factors such as the prevalence of favorable weather conditions generally resulted to abundant supply of fish in the wet markets. In addition, ample supply of in-season fruits was noted in the trading areas during the month. Lower demand for meat due to the onset of the Lenten season was also seen in NCR. All these seasonal factors pushed down prices of FBT items in the two areas relative to the expected trend.

The monthly rate of change of the seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in NCR dropped to -0.2 percent in March from 1.3 percent in February. Meanwhile, prices of seasonally adjusted CPI for FBT items in AONCR slowed down to 0.3 percent from 1.0 percent.

B. CPI of Non-FBT items: National Capital Region (NCR) and Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR)

The seasonally adjusted CPI of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR correspondingly increased to 175.9 and 170.7 in March from their last month’s respective levels of 175.2 and 169.8.

Bigger demand of selected clothing and footwear items for the graduation season did not push up prices of non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR relative to the expected trend.

Price increments in the seasonally adjusted CPI for non-FBT items in NCR and AONCR correspondingly at 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent were slower than their respective previous month’s rates of 1.2 percent and 0.7 percent.

Page last updated: April 5, 2011