Buy Noche Buena Items Early to Save, Supermarket Group Advises

Supermarket owners are urging consumers to buy their Noche Buena items early to avoid anticipated price hikes as Christmas approaches. According to the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PAGASA), items like sweet ham, fruit cocktail, processed cheese, mayonnaise, and spaghetti sauce have already seen slight price increases between September and October, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“If you are prepared and already know what to serve for Noche Buena and Media Noche, stick to it. Buy now, it’s cheaper,” said PAGASA executive director Steven Cua in an interview on 24 Oras Weekend.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to release its official price guide for Noche Buena items on Friday, aiming to help shoppers budget wisely and explore cost-effective meal options. “We will announce [the guide] so that we can also help them budget and see what options they have for their Noche Buena meals,” said Atty. Cherryl Carbonell of the DTI Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau.