• Inflation in the National Capital Region (NCR) likewise picked up to 1.0 percent in November. Last month, inflation in the area was 0.2 percent and in November 2014, 2.4 percent. The annual increment in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index soared and the transport index registered an uptrend.

• Following the same trend, inflation in Areas Outside NCR (AONCR) leaped by 1.1 percent in November. In October, it grew by 0.5 percent and in the same period last year, 4.0 percent. The indices of seven out of the 11 commodity divisions had higher annual rates during the month.

• Consumer prices in the Philippines moved up by 0.5 percent in November. This was mainly attributed to higher prices of the heavily-weighted food items particularly vegetables, fish, fruits, meat and corn. Also contributing to the uptrend were increased prices of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, some items for personal care and effects, LPG and kerosene. Charges in electricity rates and prices of meals outside the home also went up in many regions.

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  CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
  (2006=100)
  NOVEMBER 2015

By Region, Year-on-Year

• Inflation in NCR advanced 1.0 percent in November.

• Similarly, inflation in AONCR gained 1.1 percent in November. Higher annual increments were registered in all the regions except in Bicol Region and ARMM. The highest annual inflation of 2.5 percent remained in ARMM while the lowest was still observed in Bicol Region at -0.5 percent.

By Commodity Group, Year-on-Year

• At the national level, annual mark-ups were higher in the indices of eight out of the 11 commodity divisions. The indices of communication and education retained their last month’s rates while the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels continued to exhibit a negative rate of -1.2 percent.

  On an annual basis, the country’s food alone index accelerated by 1.7 percent in November. It was noted at 0.7 percent last month and 6.7 percent in the same period a year ago.

  A double-digit annual growth of 12.0 percent was recorded in the vegetable index. Faster annual add-ons were also seen in the indices of other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery product at 1.2 percent; meat, 0.9 percent; fish and fruit, both at 3.6 percent; and sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery, 3.9 percent. The rest of the food groups moved slower with the index for corn having a zero growth. Declines were however, observed in the indices of rice at -2.4 percent and oils and fats, -0.1 percent.

• In NCR, the annual inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages and transport indices correspondingly jumped by 2.2 percent and 2.6 percent in November. The other commodity groups either had lower annual growths or retained their last month’s rates except for the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels which continued to post a negative rate at -1.4 percent.

  • The food alone index in NCR further increased by 2.3 percent in November. Last month, it was up by 0.9 percent and in November last year, 5.9 percent.

  • Double-digit annual growths were seen in the indices of corn and vegetables at 19.0 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively. Higher annual upticks were also noticed in the indices of meat; fish; and fruits. Meanwhile, the rest of the food groups either decreased or had lower annual growths except the index of milk, cheese and egg which retained its previous month’s rate.

• In AONCR, the annual growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages index gained momentum at 1.5 percent in November; alcoholic beverages and tobacco index, 4.2 percent; clothing and footwear index, 2.3 percent; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house index, 2.1 percent; health index, 1.6 percent; recreation and culture index, 0.7 percent; restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services index, 1.8 percent. The rest of the commodity groups either recorded annual declines or retained their last month’s rate.

  • The annual rate in the food alone index in AONCR climbed 1.6 percent in November. Its annual growth last month was 0.7 percent and in November 2014, 6.9 percent.

  • Faster annual add-on was noted in the index of other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery products at 1.3 percent in November; meat index, 0.5 percent; fish index, 4.1 percent; fruit index, 3.4 percent; vegetable index, 9.8 percent; and sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery index, 4.2 percent.

  • The rice index was still on a downtrend as its annual change was posted at -2.2 percent. Twelve regions had negative rates with the lowest remaining in Bicol Region at -9.3 percent. Meanwhile, the highest annual growth of 2.7 percent was still observed in ARMM.

  • Likewise, the indices of corn and oils and fats correspondingly dropped by 0.7 percent and 0.2 percent. The rest of the food groups had slower annual upticks.

By Region, Month-on-Month

By Commodity Group, Month-on-Month

• Measured from a month ago level, prices of consumer items in the Philippines went up by 0.5 percent in November. This was due to the 1.0 percent hike in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index. In addition, higher growth rates were seen in all the other commodity groups except in the indices of health; transport; communication; and education. The index for health maintained its last month’s rate of 0.2 percent while the transport index decreased by 0.1 percent. However, the indices of communication and education still recorded a zero growth.

  • Supplies of vegetables from vegetable producing regions were limited as typhoon “Lando” destroyed vegetable crops. This factor raised prices of vegetables in the markets. Thus, the group’s index in NCR and AONCR shoot up by 10.4 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively. At the national level, the group’s index advanced 8.4 percent.

  • The bad weather conditions brought about by typhoon “Lando” limited fishing trips during the month. It triggered higher prices of fish in many regions. Hence, the fish index in three areas went up during the period: Philippines, 1.2 percent; NCR, 1.1 percent; and AONCR, 1.3 percent.

  • The fruit index in NCR and AONCR rose 0.6 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively as prices of off-season fruits such as mango, avocado and watermelon were still on the uptrend. Canned fruits were also priced higher in many provinces during the period. The national index gained by 0.9 percent.

  • Upward price adjustments in pork in NCR resulted to 0.2 percent growth in the meat index in the area. The damage done by typhoon “Lando” in livestock production limited its supplies in the markets. Similarly, the meat index in AONCR moved up by 0.1 percent as prices of fresh, processed and canned meat were higher in many provinces. At the national level, the group’s index inched up 0.1 percent.

  • The corn index in NCR posted a double-digit growth of 17.7 percent. This was effected by limited supplies of corn in NCR markets due to damage done by typhoon “Lando” in its production. In AONCR, the corn index likewise increased by 0.2 percent and at the national level, 0.8 percent.

  • Enough supplies of rice in the markets pulled down its prices in NCR by 0.1 percent and in AONCR, -0.2 percent. The rice index at the country level further dropped by 0.2 percent. This was attributed to the on-going harvest of palay in many provinces.

• Meals eaten outside the home were priced higher in many regions. Moreover, prices of some items for personal care and effects generally went up in many provinces. These factors resulted to a 0.4 percent growth in the index for restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services in AONCR. Meanwhile, the group’s index in NCR continued to record a zero growth during the period. At the national level, the index rose 0.3 percent.

• The index for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels in NCR gained 0.2 percent and in AONCR, 0.1 percent. This was brought about by add-ons in the prices of LPG and higher charges in electricity rates. Moreover, prices of kerosene moved upward in many regions. The national index inched up 0.1 percent.

• Higher prices of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages pushed the index for alcoholic beverages and tobacco in AONCR by 1.1 percent. On the other hand, the group’s index in NCR had a zero growth. At the country level, the index picked up by 0.9 percent.

• The transport index in NCR registered a 0.1 percent growth due to higher ship fare and upward adjustment in the price of LPG auto gas. Meanwhile, the transport index in AONCR declined by 0.1 percent as prices of gasoline and diesel were rolled back. At the national level, the group’s index fell by 0.1 percent.

Notes:

1. The second phase survey reports for November 2015 from the following provinces/cities were not received as of December 3, 2015:

• Nueva Vizcaya
• Zambales
• Isabela City

2. CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are also available upon request at Philippine Statistics Authority, Economic Sector Statistics Service, Price Statistics Division (Telephone Number: 376-19-59).

(Sgd.) LISA GRACE S. BERSALES, Ph.D.
National Statistician