THE Department of Trade and Industry said that prices of several noche buena items are starting to increase weeks ahead of the Christmas holidays.

According to DTI Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles there are 100 stock keeping units including cheese, sandwich spread, ham, fruit cocktail, keso de bola, and mayonnaise that have jacked up their prices just this month.

"Pero ang good news this 2023, 5 percent lang ang average increase ng mga noche buena products in the pricing guide. Kasi nung nakarang taon hanggang 11 percent ang average increase," she said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

Nograles noted that 21 items on the other hand slashed prices while 34 items did not change prices. 

"Napakiusapan natin ang mga manufacturers na ang presyo dito sa price guide ay mananatili hangang Dec. 31, 2023," she said. 

Earlier, the DTI released their suggested retail price (SRP) list for noche buena goods.

Among the products include a price guide for ham, fruit cocktail, keso de bola, mayonnaise, all purpose cream, sandwich spread, spaghetti, pasta, elbow macaroni, tomato sauce, salad macaroni, and spaghetti sauce.