Philippines Inflation Rate Matches Estimates

The Philippines' annual inflation rate increased to 1.3 percent in November 2019 from 0.8 percent in the previous month and in line with market estimates. This was the highest inflation rate since August, mainly due to a faster rise in prices of housing while food prices were unchanged and transport prices decline further.
Philippine Statistics Authority l Chusnul Ch Manan | chusnul@tradingeconomics.com
12/5/2019 2:22:14 AM
Year-on-year, iInflation accelerated for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (1.2 percent vs 0.6 percent in October); furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (2.8 percent vs 2.7 percent); health (3.1 percent vs 2.9 percent); communication (0.3 percent vs 0.2); and alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose faster (17.6 percent vs 16.5 percent).
 
Meanwhile, inflation was unchanged for both education (at 4.6 percent) and recreation and culture (at 1.4 percent). On the other hand, restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services inflation eased (2.7 percent vs 2.9 percent), while transport prices fell further (-2.4 percent vs -1.7 percent).
 
Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages were unchanged in November, from 0.9 percent decline in October. Cost rose further for food products, N.E.C (5.6 percent); meat (2.7 percent); other cereals, flours, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery products (2.7 percent); fruits (8.4 percent); and oils & fats (0.6 percent). Meanwhile, rice prices posted its largest fall so far this year (-8.3 percent), due to a supply surge after volume limits for imported rice were removed with the Rice Tariffication Law that was enacted last February. Prices also dropped for corn (-2.2 percent), sugar, jam, honey (-3.8 percent).
 
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.25 percent in November, after a 0.2 percent gain in October, matching market consesnsus. Prices increased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.2 percent); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.5 percent); clothing and footwear (0.2 percent); housing (0.4 percent); furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (0.4 percent), health (0.2 percent), communication (0.1 percent), recreation & culture, education (0.1 percent), and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services (0.3 percent). Meantime, transport prices fell (-0.2 percent).
 


Philippines Inflation Rate Matches Estimates