Prices of school supplies ‘within range’

Prices of some school supplies have gone up, yes, but these remain consistent with the suggested retail price (SRP) based on the trade agency’s monitoring, Director Asteria Caberte of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

She confirmed that the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) has adjusted the SRP for school supplies by six to 16 percent, based on points manufacturers had raised.

Setting the SRP follows a process similar to how wages are set in each region. Manufacturers file a petition to adjust the price, especially if the cost of inputs and operations have increased.

Caberte said that a consumer group and other members of NPCC will then evaluate whether or not there’s enough basis to adjust the SRP.

“Because the petition was meritorious, it was approved. So, the SRP has been adjusted. But no business owner went beyond the SRP. The prices of commodities, including school supplies in the region, are well within the SRP,” Caberte said.

The NPCC approved the adjusted SRP a month ago. Most school supplies, especially paper products, are more expensive this year than these were last year. “The retailers must be compliant with the SRP, as set by NPCC. Based on our monitoring, the retailers are not increasing the prices beyond the SRP,” Caberte side.