If the war in the Middle East prolongs and global oil prices continue to skyrocket, the Philippine peso could breach the ₱61:$1 level in the second quarter of 2026 and even hit as low as ₱62 to ₱64 against the United States (US) dollar. “Our base case forecasts for the US dollar-Philippine...
Renewed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are seen aggravating oil price- and supply-driven inflation pressures in the Philippines stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East. “While the direct effect of renewed strikes on shipping in the Red Sea on aggregate world trade is likely to be limited,...
The Philippines and its emerging neighbors in Southeast Asia face deepening threat of physical fuel shortages and systemic economic paralysis as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz chokes off refined petroleum imports. According to Oxford Economics, the Philippines is among the most...
The Philippines has lagged behind its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors in attracting Chinese outbound direct investment (ODI), even as other emerging-market (EM) economies in the region continue to benefit from China’s overseas investment growth, according to think tank...
Central banks in emerging markets (EMs), including the Philippines, are seen hiking interest rates to temper weakening currencies and higher capital outflows, according to think tank Capital Economics. Shilan Shah, deputy chief EM economist at Capital Economics, said in a March 30 report that they...
The global oil price and supply shock caused by the war in the Middle East may reverse early 2026 gains by Philippine exporters, according to think tank Oxford Economics. In a report on Monday, March 30, Oxford Economics senior economist Sheana Yue said that while Asian goods exports started 2026...
The global oil shock triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East is hitting the Philippines’ poorest households the hardest, as surging fuel costs spill over into food prices and erode purchasing power. A March 26 position paper by state-run policy think tank Philippine Institute for...
Business confidence and investment in the country are expected to take a hit as the government escalates anti-corruption efforts, with the ongoing scandal potentially causing firms to postpone projects, according to London-based think tank Capital Economics. In a report dated Oct. 22, Jason Tuvey,...
Renewable energy (RE) is gaining bigger share of the country’s power generation mix as gas-fired power development continues to slow down, according to a study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). In a report, Sam Reynolds of the IEEFA explained that gas-to-power...
Pervasive corruption in the Philippines is preventing the country from realizing its full economic potential, despite President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. making “steady progress” on his reform agenda, according to the think tank Capital Economics. In its Asia Economic Outlook report for the...
Asian nations would be dragged into the intensifying trade and geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington, even as the Philippines may emerge unscathed due to its neutral position in trade with both China and the United States (US), according to think tank Oxford Economics. In a Sept. 22...
Consumer prices may have risen at a faster pace in August, the central bank projected, as recent typhoons and excessive rainfall likely stoked the cost of basic goods, especially food items. Last month’s inflation is expected to clock within the range of one percent to 1.8 percent, according to...
