THE national average retail price of well-milled rice in late December was P54.68 per kilogram (kg), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Rice prices rose 0.97% during the Dec. 15 to 17 period, which the PSA calls the second phase of December, compared with prices between Dec. 1 and 5, or the first phase.
The PSA reported that Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) posted the highest average retail price, with well milled rice selling for P58 per kg.
At the low end during the period was Ilocos Region with rice prices at P50.37 per kg.
It said regular-milled rice averaged P49.38 per kg, or 1.13% higher compared to the first phase.
Caraga region posted the highest average price at P50.64 per kg, while Western Visayas was lowest at P44.08 per kg.
The PSA reported that the national average retail price for refined sugar was P90.19 per kg.
For the second phase of December, prices in Eastern Visayas were the highest, with sugar hitting P102.92 per kg.
Prices in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were the lowest at P82.05 per kg.
Brown sugar averaged P79.52 per kg for the period.
The PSA reported that Calabarzon had the highest retail price for brown sugar at P88.86 per kg, while Zamboanga Peninsula posted the lowest at P71.87 per kg.
Pork kasim (shoulder) averaged P322.72 per kg.
The highest retail price was reported in Northern Mindanao at P367.22 per kg, while Central Visayas posted the lowest at P284.5 per kg.
Pork liempo (belly), on the other hand, averaged P340.65 per kg during the second phase.
Davao Region had the highest price at P373.9 per kg, while Cagayan Valley posted the lowest at P292 per kg. — Adrian H. Halili