DTI posts noche buena price guide online

Amid reports of recent increases in prices of Christmas food items, the Department of Trade and Industry posted online a price guide for "Noche Buena" products. The DTI list of suggested retail prices [SRPs] for Noche Buena products, updated Nov. 26, was posted on its website Wednesday morning as an image file. "SRPs apply nationwide, unless specified. SRPs apply to both supermarkets and wet markets unless specified," it said. [See: DTI price watch] It advised consumers to check carefully the weight and price tags of products before buying them, and call the DTI hotline at 7513330 to report violations. Food items included in the list are ham, pasta, elbow and salad macaroni, fruit cocktail, cheese, sandwich spread, spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, creamer, keso de bola (cheese ball), condensed milk, and evaporated milk. Prices of cooked ham ranged from P155 (500g) to P657 (1.4 kg) while SRP for Chinese style ham (raw) is at P521.60 (3 to 4.5 kg) while Chinese Ham (bone-in) boiled costs P597.95 (3 to 10 kg). SRP of pasta ranges from P32.75 (400g) to P211.50 (2.5 kg), while that of elbow and salad macaroni ranges from P26 (200g) to P348.75 (5 kg). Spaghetti sauce prices range from P19.85 (250g) to P83 (1 kg), while tomato sauce prices range from P10.90 (115g) to P60 (1 kg). Cheese, sandwich spread and mayonnaise prices range from P22.90 (sandwich spread 80 ml) to P541.20 (quick-melt cheese). Keso de Bola prices range from P35.95 (400g) to P340 (cheese ball 750g). Creamer prices range from P34.50 (250ml) to P54.50 (300g), while condensed milk prices range from P29 (250ml) to P52.10 (300ml); and evaporated milk prices range from P10.40 (154ml) to P33.10 (370ml). — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV