Prices of goods to remain stable

MANILA, Philippines - Prices of basic goods are expected to remain stable in the coming weeks given ample supply, except for fish and vegetables which may be affected by seasonality, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

DTI undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said in a text message price hikes are not expected for processed goods.

“(There is) no reason for (price) increases as (prices of) raw material inputs or major components have not increased,” she said.

The DTI’s price monitoring chart as of February 8, showed the prices of processed and manufactured commodities are at the same levels as last week’s.

Canned sardines are being sold at prices ranging from P12.25 to P13.25 per 155-gram can, the same as in the previous week.

The price of processed milk is still at P46.50 per 300-milliliter can.

Prices of instant noodles remained at P6.10 and P7.10, for every 50-gram pack and 55-gram pack, respectively.

Bread prices were also unchanged from the previous week’s. The 400-gram Pinoy Tasty is still selling at P37.50, and the Pinoy Pandesal costs P22.50 for each pack containing 10 pieces.

Maglaya said prices of pork, chicken, cooking oil, rice and sugar are seen to be steady.

Fish and vegetable prices, she said, are likewise expected to be stable except for a few varieties due to seasonality.

“Price of vegetables are sensitive to seasonality or volume of harvest,” she said.

According to the price monitoring chart of the Department of Agriculture, prices of meat, cooking oil, rice, sugar (refined and brown), fish and vegetables were kept at last week’s levels except for washed sugar, ampalaya, cabbage and eggplant.

Pork liempo is still selling at P180 per kilogram (kg), while fully dressed chicken is available at P130 per kg and beef brisket costs P200 per kg.

Cooking oil is being sold at P20 per bottle.

Regular milled rice is still priced at P30 per kg, while refined sugar costs P46 per kg and brown sugar is worth P38 per kg.

Bangus and tilapia prices were also maintained at last week’s levels, amounting to P120 per kg and P90 per kg, respectively.

Prices of some vegetables were unchanged from the previous week’s. Carrot and tomato are both still selling at P30 per kg.

Meanwhile, the price of washed sugar declined to P40 per kg from the previous week’s P42 per kg.

The price of ampalaya dropped to P60 per kg from P70 per kg last week, while the price of cabbage is down to P35 per kg from P40 per kg and the price of eggplant is at now at a lower P40 per kg from P50 per kg.