Prices of culinary milk, cream, canned fruits, and cooking oils have increased in sari-sari stores, Packworks Sari IQ analytics platform showed, signaling a more expensive Noche Buena for most Filipinos this December.
Andres Montiel, Chief Data Officer of Packworks, said the price of milk and cream went up by 11.84 percent.
He said a 250-milliliter pack of purpose cream, 300-milliliter pack of condensed milk, and 370-milliliter pack of evaporated milk now cost P10 to P15 more than the previous price.
Montiel quoted information from Sari IQ, which monitors information from Packworks’ network of almost 200,000 sari-sari stores across the country.
The price increase is because “culinary milk and creams are normally imported from other countries. The increasing dollar rate over the peso affects the commodity prices since these are imported,” he said.
Prices of palm, vegetable, and canola oils went up by 5.95 percent and nare now sold for approximately P80 more per liter.
Prices of spreads such as mayonnaise and peanut butter increased by 5.77 percent and now cost P40 more per kilo, while dairy products like cheese, margarine, and chilled ice cream became more expensive by around 5.28 percent.
Canned goods also grew costlier by 5.26 percent. Prices of canned nata de coco, whole and cream-style corn, kaong (sugar palm), pineapple chunks, and fruit cocktails jumped by P8 to P20. Prices of other canned products such as corned beef, tuna, meatloaf, and sardines also rose by P5.
“These prices could go up further through the ‘ber’ months, and the demand will definitely be higher. Our local households may be able to skimp on other items, such as clothing or gas, but they have to eat,” Montiel added.
Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry admitted the cost of some Noche Buena items will increase ahead of the Christmas celebration, with some ham manufacturers already seeking a P40 hike.
“We are talking to the manufacturers if they can temper their increase. So far, the petitions submitted to us for ham are all below the P50 price hike. Others will even decrease,” said Ann Claire Cabochon, officer-in-charge of DTI Consumer Protection Group.
At Excelente Ham in Quiapo, the price of Chinese ham increased to P1,640 from P1,540 last year, while scrap ham now fetches P1,560 from P1,520 last year.
The prices of cream increased from P8 to P15, while salad and elbow macaroni also increased from P4 to P27.
The prevailing price of white sugar in Metro Manila stood at P106 in groceries and supermarkets and P100 in markets.
