DTI releases Noche Buena price guide; 195 out of 223 products hiked prices

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Wednesday released a price guide for consumers and retailers in buying Noche Buena products in time for the Christmas season.

DTI releases Noche Buena price guide for retailers and consumers. pic.twitter.com/24YUCZAg1d

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) November 23, 2022

The price guide includes products such as ham, fruit cocktail, queso de bola, pasta or spaghetti, elbow macaroni, salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and creamer or all-purpose cream.

The DTI said Noche Buena items “are not categorized as basic necessities and prime commodities under the Republic Act No. 75181, as amended by RA No. 10623.”

195 out of 223 Noche Buena items have increased prices, ranging from 1-5%, 6-10%, and over 10%. pic.twitter.com/AdKKAXBe3W

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) November 23, 2022

Out of the 223 stock keeping units (SKUs) or product variants in the Noche Buena price guide, 195 saw price hikes, two posted price reductions while the remaining eight were unchanged. Eighteen new product variants were added to the list.

Of the 195 that posted an increase, 94 items were hiked by more than 10%, 51 saw a price increase of 6% to 10% while 50 were up by 1% to 5%.

At a televised public briefing, DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said  the prices of Noche Buena items have increased from 10% to 27% this year compared to last year.

“Ang range po ng pagtaas compared to 2021 nasa 10%. Meron pong pinakamalaking 27% depende sa produkto,” she said.

(The range of price increase compared to 2021 is around 10%. The highest increase is 27%)

Castelo said the price of ham increased by 10%, fruit cocktail by 13%, and mayonnaise by 27%.

Some manufacturers have advised DTI of an increase of some of their products considering their production cost also increased.

However, Castelo said the DTI appealed to manufacturers to keep the price increase at minimum level only.

To avoid overpricing, Castelo said the DTI has been monitoring the prices of Noche Buena items.

The DTI earlier said prices of Noche Buena items are set to increase due to the rising prices of ingredients and raw materials.  — with Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News