Month-on-Month Growth Rates

The seasonally adjusted CPI for all items in the Philippines moved up at a faster pace of 0.4 percent in November from 0.3 percent in October; alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 0.8 percent from 0.4 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent. On the other hand, a slower monthly gain of 0.1 percent was recorded in the indices of clothing and footwear and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house from their corresponding last month’s rates of 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent. Movements in the indices of health and education remained at 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively while a zero growth was posted in the indices of recreation and culture and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services.

Seasonal factor like the on-going production of selected goods in preparation for the coming Christmas season generally pushed down the indices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; health; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services. On the contrary, this seasonal factor pushed up the indices for all items and education while it generally did not affect the index for recreation and culture.

In NCR, the seasonally adjusted CPI for alcoholic beverages and tobacco picked up 0.5 percent in November from 0.3 percent in October. However, increases in the indices of furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house decelerated to 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent and education, 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent. The transport index moved at its October rate of 0.3 percent while the non-food index had a zero growth.

Seasonal factor like higher production of selected goods in preparation for the Christmas season generally pushed down the indices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco; non-food; and transport. On the other hand, the education index was pushed up by this seasonal factor. That for furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house index was not affected by this seasonal factor.

On a monthly basis, the seasonally adjusted CPI for alcoholic beverages and tobacco in AONCR went up 0.7 percent in November from 0.4 percent in October and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 0.2 percent from 0.1 percent. Meanwhile, a 0.1 percent increment posted in the indices of health and recreation and culture was slower compared from 0.2 percent last month. The same previous month’s rates were noted in the indices for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; education; clothing and footwear; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.4 percent, 0.3 percent, 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

The seasonal factor like the increase in production of selected goods in preparation for the approaching holiday season generally pushed down the indices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; and health. On the contrary, the education index was pushed up by this seasonal factor. The indices for recreation and culture and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services were not affected by this seasonal factor.