The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to release the “noche buena” price guide as the holiday season is fast approaching, in which several food items are becoming more expensive by as much as a fifth of their prices last year.

The price guide includes the 240 shelf-keeping units that the manufacturers use to determine and monitor inventory, such as ham, fruit cocktail, pasta, spaghetti sauce, and queso de bola.

According to DTI Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles, the increase is due to various reasons that have been cited by local manufacturers, like the rising cost of packaging materials, labor, electricity, and distribution.

Moreover, the DTI doesn’t approve the prices of Noche Buena products compared to the essential food items and necessities mandated by the Price Act.

If market forces dictate the pricing, the surge in demand during the holiday season will have the tendency to push the prices higher.