The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Thursday issued a new suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin, clearing the way for the implementation of varying price increases in a number of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs)
This comes barely a day after government economists reported that headline inflation in January 2025 was steady at 2.9 percent year-on-year, unchanged from the previous month’s rate.
It can be recalled that the DTI’s last SRP bulletin was issued on January 12, 2024.
The latest price bulletin covers 191 stock-keeping units (SKUs), down from 217 in previous years.
Of these, 77 items saw price increases, 6 experienced price reductions, and 108 maintained stable prices. Additionally, 11 products underwent size changes, with 9 items reducing in size while increasing in price.
Budget bread manufacturers were granted a P2.25 increase for a 10-piece bag of Pinoy Pandesal, now priced at P27.25. Similarly, the price of Pinoy Tasty rose from P40 to P44 per loaf.
Price hikes were observed across various categories, including canned goods, beverages, and household items.
Canned sardines saw increases of up to P4 per SKU, while corned beef and beef loaf experienced similar adjustments.
Popular beverages like coffee refills and 3-in-1 coffee packs registered price hikes of P3 to P3.25 per SKU, while condensed milk showed a P2.50 price hike for some brands, P4 per SKU for certain brands of evaporated milk, and P5.25 maximum increase for powdered milk.
Detergents and toilet soap prices rose by P2.50 to P3, reflecting broader trends in personal care inflation.
Condiments such as soy sauce, fish sauce, and vinegar experienced minimal increments of less than P1, depending on volume.
Household items like candles, batteries, and luncheon meat also saw price hikes, with Energizer batteries increasing by nearly P10 per pack.
Still, some items did see price reductions.
Certain brands of canned sardines and bottled water experienced slight price drops, providing some relief to consumers.
BNPC manufacturers have noted that some of the SKUs listed are no longer available on shelves and that the prices listed were not subject to consultations with manufacturers or retailers before the release.
Last year, the DTI held meetings with BNPC manufacturers to streamline the process of issuing and revising the SRP Bulletin.
Proposed changes included replacing the SRP with a Price Guide for products commonly purchased by the bottom 30 percent of the population, based on the consumer price index.
However, formal discussions ceased after leadership changes at the DTI late last year.
Consequently, the industry was caught off guard by the release of the latest SRP list without prior notification about the status of these discussions.
“We await further clarification from the DTI on the direction of these initiatives,” BNPC manufacturers said in a statement.
Consumers are encouraged to stay informed and adjust their purchasing decisions accordingly.
The DTI assured it would continue to monitor SRP adjustments to ensure they align with market conditions and prioritize consumer welfare.