THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said 43.2% of the items on its list of ingredients for the traditional Christmas feast, known as the Noche Buena, reflected increased prices.
The DTI’s 2024 Noche Buena Price Guide covered 236 stock keeping units (SKUs) from 22 manufacturers. Of these, prices for 102 SKUs rose, while those for 121 SKUs were unchanged and those for 13 SKUs declined.
According to the DTI, prices were stable for certain brands of ham, fruit cocktail, the domestic variety of Edam cheese known as queso de bola, sandwich spread, cheese, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and all-purpose cream.
“Additionally, the 13 SKUs with price reductions include selected brands of mayonnaise, elbow macaroni, salad macaroni, and all-purpose cream,” it added.
All fruit cocktail SKUs showed higher prices, as did some brands of ham, cheese, all-purpose cream, elbow macaroni, salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, and tomato sauce.
“This year’s Noche Buena Price Guide demonstrates the DTI’s commitment to empowering Filipino families to make informed choices,” Acting Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said.
“By publishing this price guide, the DTI urges consumers to compare prices and select products that best fit their budget and preferences for the holiday season,” she added.
The DTI said that the prices listed in the price guide will remain effective until Dec. 31.
The list gave a price range for ham of P170 to P928.50, queso de bola P210 to P445, fruit cocktail P61.76 to P302.5, cheese P56.50 to P310, mayonnaise P20.40 to P245.85, and sandwich spread P27 to P263.
The range given for all-purpose cream was P36.50 to P72, spaghetti P32 to P114, elbow macaroni P30.50 to P126.25, tomato sauce P16.50 to P92.85, salad macaroni P36.50 to P126.25, and spaghetti sauce P28.50 to P103. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
