Prices of noche buena items have started to increase – DTI

CEBU, Philippines - As shoppers start to flock stores with their Christmas list, the Department of Trade and Industry has noted an increase in the prices of some noche buena items.

DTI-Cebu consumer welfare chief Zaide Bation said prices of some brands of fruit cocktail, mayonnaise and tomato sauce have increased.

While costs of other goods like ham have gone down, there are however, three kinds of ham that have increased in prices.

Prices of fruit cocktail have risen by at least P1 to P6 while those of mayonnaise have increased by P2.25. One brand of tomato sauce has increased in price by .37 centavos.

For ham products, Bation said the average decrease is P24.

"Majority of the listed items in the 2015 noche buena SRP (suggested retail price) have same prices with last year's SRP," she told The FREEMAN yesterday.

Prices of various brands of elbow and salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce and spaghetti have both increased and decreased.

While costs of cheese, sandwich spread and queso de bola remain the same.

Consumers are told to check the expiry date and price tag of products before buying them, ensure that shelf price and cashier price are the same and compare weights of competing brands.

The 2015 SRP that DTI recently released for noche buena items apply nationwide both to supermarkets and wet markets, unless specified.

Supermarkets are told to place their SRP posters in their stores for the consumers' information.

Retailers found selling goods at prices above the SRPs will be asked to explain and show the cost of acquisition. (FREEMAN)