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Higher CPI in 2010 Attributed to High Inflation Rate in Housing and Repair
(Posted January 24, 2011)

The average annual consumer price index (CPI) of Western Visayas in 2010 recorded the highest in the last three years at 165.0. This is 4.6 percentage points higher than its 2009 level (160.4) and 10.0 percentage points higher from its 2008 level (155.0).

The rather high CPI is brought about by high inflation rates in the Housing and Repair (26.1%) commodity group and with a large gap, followed by Services at 4.7 percent and Food Beverages & Tobacco at 2.4 percent.

In 2010, except for Fuel, Light & Water and Clothing that significantly dropped by 28.3 and 13.1 percent, respectively, all indices in all commodity groups went higher. Housing and Repairs remarkably rose by 26.1 percent, the Food group by 4.2 percent, Services by 4.7 percent, and Miscellaneous by 1.5 percent.

Prices of the majority of food items included in the region's market basket rose faster in 2010 that pushed the overall level of the heavily weighted food group to its current level. Increased prices were noted in fruits and vegetables (12.8%); eggs (10.8%); rice (7.6%), cereals (7.0%); cereals & cereal preparations (5.1%); and miscellaneous foods (15.6%). Decreased prices, on the other hand, were noted in dairy products (10.7%), corn (10.6%), and fish (7.5%).

Consumer Price Index, Western Visayas: 2008-2010

Commodity	Consumer Price Index			Inflation Rate 2010
Commodity	2010	2009	2008	Inflation Rate 2010
All Items	165.0	160.4	153.1	2.9
I. Food, Beverages & Tobacco	166.4	162.5	151.6	2.4
a. Food	168.2	164.2	152.7	4.2
Cereal & Cereal Prep	169.8	168.5	153.3	5.1
Cereal	171.3	170.7	154.5	7.0
Rice	172.2	172.1	155.8	7.6
Corn	154.7	145.7	130.3	-10.6
Cereal Preparations	162.7	157.8	147.5	-3.7
Dairy Products	176.8	174.9	163.1	-10.7
Eggs	168.6	160.5	149.3	10.8
Fish	173.8	172.6	162.1	-7.5
Fruits & Vegetables	172.5	167.8	158.6	12.8
Meat	153.6	149.6	139.5	3.9
Miscellaneous	165.2	153.7	146.6	15.6
b. Beverages	152.7	149.4	144.3	0.3
c. Tobacco	135.9	133.7	129.4	-1.9
II. Clothing	121.9	120.4	117.6	-13.1
III. Housing & Repairs	145.5	144.0	140.4	26.1
IV. Fuel, Light & Water	206.2	186.8	191.7	-28.3
V. Services	188.0	181.9	176.0	4.7
VI. Miscellaneous	130.3	129.3	125.7	1.5
Source: National Statistics Office