Philippine economic growth in 2026 would have hit the government’s downgraded target range had the war in the Middle East been short-lived, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). However, the Bangkok-headquartered UNESCAP said a...
I may have to eat humble pie if the Philippine peso weakens to ₱60 to the United States (US) dollar or above for a prolonged period in 2026. I have been cocksure that “the Philippine peso will not be a ‘senior citizen’ any time this year.” I had predicted the exchange rate would remain at...
Stalling public investments, compounded by vulnerability to the escalating impacts of the ongoing global energy shock, prompted global debt watcher Fitch Ratings to downgrade its outlook on the Philippines’ investment-grade status from ‘stable’ to ‘negative.’ This shift in outlook places...
New York-based Moody’s Analytics expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to stand pat at this week’s policy meeting, despite a slightly worsening inflation outlook following the March price uptick. Analysts at Moody’s Analytics wrote in a commentary last Friday, April 17, that...
British banking giant Barclays expects Philippine economic growth this year to fall to a new post-pandemic low, even as easing tensions in the Middle East may help limit further downside risks to the outlook. An April 17 report obtained by Manila Bulletin showed Barclays’ latest forecast of just...
Private sector economists are split over whether the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will raise interest rates this week, as the need to anchor inflation expectations and defend the peso battles concerns over the fragile economic recovery. Of 10 economists surveyed, five expect a 25-basis-point...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) secured a temporary toll fee waiver for trucks transporting agricultural goods, part of the strategic push to lower logistics expenses, stabilize retail food prices, and shield farmers’ earnings from volatile fuel costs. In a statement on Friday, April 17,...
The government has reached a fresh agreement with manufacturers and retailers to extend the nationwide price freeze on essential goods until May 10, providing a temporary shield for consumers against rising living costs. On Friday, April 17, Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque announced the...
While the oil-induced inflation spike in the Philippines is raising concerns, think tank Capital Economics expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep key interest rates steady for the rest of the year. In an April 15 report, Capital Economics chief emerging markets (EMs) economist...
Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, April 15, criticized the administration’s handling of the ongoing price crisis in the Philippines, linking it to rising inflation and alleging that the lack of relief for Filipinos stems not from limited resources but from the misuse of public funds for...
Second-round effects of surging energy costs are filtering through the Philippine gaming industry, as business activity begins to bear the brunt of elevated fuel prices caused by Middle East tensions. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)...
Stagflationary pressures are building in the Philippines as swift and pronounced spillovers from the Middle East conflict prompt the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to slash its growth forecast while anticipating above-target inflation. According to the IMF’s April 2026 World Economic Outlook...
