APRIL AND MARCH 2012

• Higher prices of the items in the heavily-weighted food group particularly corn, fish, processed and canned meat, processed eggs, milk, selected fruits and sugar were noted in many regions including NCR. This primarily pushed up the country’s month-on-month inflation by 0.8 percent in April from 0.2 percent in March. In addition, upward adjustments in land transport fares and charges for electricity rates were observed in selected regions including NCR.

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  CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
  (2006=100)
  APRIL 2012

By Region, Year-on-Year

• The annual inflation in NCR eased to 2.5 percent in April from 2.7 percent in March.

• Annual inflation in AONCR however, went up to 3.2 percent in April from 2.6 percent in March. Twelve regions recorded higher annual rates with the biggest jump of 2.1 percentage points observed in Central Visayas (3.9% from 1.8%). The highest rate was noted in Central Luzon and Caraga at 4.3 percent while the lowest rate at 1.2 percent was in Ilocos region.

By Commodity Group, Year-on-Year

• The annual hike in food and non-alcoholic beverages index in the Philippines moved up to 1.8 percent in April from 1.4 percent in March; alcoholic beverages and tobacco index, 5.0 percent from 4.3 percent; clothing and footwear index, 4.6 percent from 3.6 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels index, 4.7 percent from 4.5 percent; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house index, 3.2 percent from 2.3 percent; health index, 3.3 percent from 2.8 percent; recreation and culture index, 2.6 percent from 2.2 percent; and restaurant, miscellaneous goods and services index, 3.3 percent from 2.9 percent. The annual adjustments for the rest of the commodity groups were either slower or remained at their previous month’s rate with a zero growth recorded in the communication index.

  The food alone index at the national level picked up to 1.7 percent in April from 1.2 percent in March.

  The annual add-on in fish index was higher at 7.5 percent in April from 6.5 percent in March; milk, cheese and egg index, 3.2 percent from 2.8 percent; fruits index, 6.9 percent from 4.9 percent; and food products not elsewhere classified index, 2.9 percent from 1.6 percent. The annual changes in all the other food groups either decelerated or were negative during the month.

• In NCR, the annual uptick in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels index slipped to 3.5 percent in April from 4.1 percent in March and transport index, 1.0 percent from 2.1 percent. The communication index had a zero growth while the rest of the commodity groups either registered higher annual increments or retained their respective previous month’s rate.

  • The annual inflation for food alone index in NCR eased to 0.9 percent in April from 1.0 percent in March.

  • The annual rate of rice index further declined to -5.2 percent in April from -3.4 percent in March; oils and fats index, -0.5 percent from 7.7 percent; and sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery index, -18.0 percent from -20.1 percent. Moreover, the annual increase in the meat index was slower at 0.6 percent from 1.1 percent. The rest of the food groups have higher annual gains.

• In AONCR, faster annual hikes were recorded in all the commodity groups except in the transport, communication and education indices.

  • The annual inflation for the food alone index in AONCR moved upward by 1.9 percent in April from 1.3 percent in March.

  • Higher annual growth was seen in the fish index at 7.8 percent in April from 6.9 percent in March; milk, cheese and egg index, 3.2 percent from 2.8 percent; fruits, 7.0 percent from 4.8 percent; and food products not elsewhere classified index, 3.0 percent from 2.1 percent.

  • However, the rice index in AONCR eased to 0.3 percent in April from 0.5 percent in March. Seven regions have negative annual rates while four regions posted slower annual gains. The biggest drop of 2.7 percentage points was registered in Eastern Visayas (-0.2 % from 2.5%).

  • The rest of the food groups either recorded deceleration in their annual increments or registered annual declines.

By Region, Month-on-Month

By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

• At the national level, prices of consumer items accelerated 0.8 percent in April from 0.2 percent in March. Higher monthly increments were seen in all the commodity groups except in education index which still posted a zero growth.

  • Price gains in selected fresh fish species, shrimps and crabs pushed up the corresponding fish indices in the Philippines and AONCR to 1.9 percent and 2.1 percent from 0.4 percent and in NCR, 0.5 percent from 0.2 percent. This was due to bigger demand for fish as consumers shifted from meat to fish in observance of the Lenten season.

  • The milk, cheese and egg index in the AONCR and in the Philippines climbed 0.7 percent during the month due to the increased prices of processed eggs and milk in many regions. Similarly, higher prices of these items were observed in NCR. Thus, the group’s index in the area picked up by 0.9 percent from 0.4 percent.

  • The low-priced NFA rice in NCR pulled down the rice index in the area by -0.5 percent during the month. On the contrary, the rice index in AONCR rose by 0.3 percent due to upward price adjustments in rice including the glutinous rice in selected regions. Among the regions in AONCR, the biggest uptick in the group’s index at 2.4 percent was seen in Cagayan Valley. These mixed price trends resulted to a slower monthly growth in the rice index in the Philippines at 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent.

  • The acceleration in the prices of selected condiments and seasonings raised the index for food products not elsewhere classified in NCR by 3.0 percent and in AONCR, 1.6 percent. At the national level, the group’s index jumped by 1.9 percent.

  • The index for sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery in AONCR went up by 1.4 percent in April from -0.4 percent in March brought about by the price upticks in sugar and sugar products in many regions. In NCR, the group’s index inched up by 0.1 percent from -1.2 percent as ice cream was priced higher during the month. The national index gained 1.2 percent from -0.5 percent.

  • With the upward price adjustments in selected processed and canned meat in NCR, the meat index in the area advanced by 0.4 percent in April from -0.1 percent in March. Likewise, the meat index in AONCR moved up by 0.2 percent as higher prices of pork, beef and selected processed meat products were observed in some regions. The growth in the group’s national index was also at 0.2 percent.

• Higher prices of selected construction materials along with the increased charges for electricity rates in many regions pulled up the index for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels in AONCR by 1.7 percent from 0.8 percent. Price hikes in firewood and charcoal and higher rental rates in selected regions also contributed to the uptrend. Similarly, the group’s index in NCR climbed 0.4 percent from 0.1 percent due to the increments in the charges for electricity rates. The national index for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels accelerated by 1.3 percent from 0.6 percent.

• The 1.2 percent growth in the transport index in AONCR was effected by the land transport fare hikes in selected regions together with the price add-ons in engine oil. The transport index in NCR likewise went up 0.3 percent resulting from the implementation of the jeepney transport fare increase. In the Philippines, the group’s index registered a growth of 1.0 percent.

• The index for restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services in the NCR gained 0.1 percent and in AONCR, 0.7 percent. This can be attributed to the price additions in selected items for personal care and effects observed during the month along with the higher prices of meals eaten outside the home in some provinces. The national index picked up by 0.5 percent from 0.2 percent.

NOTE: CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are also available upon request at NSO, Industry and Trade Statistics Department, Economic Indices and Indicators Division (Telephone Numbers: 716-39-35 and 715-33-47).