Economy Archives - newswatchplus.ph

Monetary Board keeps rate untouched in off-cycle meet

Lois Calderon — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:08:48 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The central bank’s policymaking Monetary Board kept borrowing costs untouched on Thursday, March 26, during an off-cycle meeting it held amid what it described as “fast-changing developments and uncertain economic conditions.” The unscheduled rate review was nearly a month ahead of a scheduled April 23 meeting, but made in wake of President

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PH vows active part in US probe over forced labor

Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring, NewsWatch Plus — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:42:09 +0000

The Philippines on Saturday, March 14, said it will participate in the United States investigation on economies that supposedly failed to take action on forced labor.

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Unemployment worsens as builders shed jobs amid corruption scandal

Lois Calderon — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:03:25 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine labor market capped 2025 with just 172,000 new jobs – on a net basis – created, the most modest gain in post-COVID years, according to data the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Friday, Feb. 6. The full-year unemployment rate worsened to an annual 4.2 percent in 2025, from 3.8

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Higher rents, power rates and fast-food prices drive inflation to 11-month peak

Lois Calderon — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:48:44 +0000

Manila, Philippines – Inflation, or the pace at which consumer prices rise, sped to 2 percent in January – its fastest in 11 months – cementing bets that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will soon end the era of easy cash. January’s inflation print topped market forecasts and December’s 1.8 percent, but fell within

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2025 growth target missed amid corruption scandal fallout

Lois Calderon — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:46:40 +0000

Manila, Philippines – Full-year economic growth in 2025 was below expectations, an economic minister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said on Thursday, Jan. 29, in part because of the fallout from a corruption scandal that hurt business confidence and private consumption. Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the economy expanded by just

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BSP signals winding down of easing cycle

Lois Calderon — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:03:07 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has signaled on Tuesday, Jan. 6, a winding down of its rate cut cycle on prospects that consumption will bounce back this year after borrowing costs were already lowered by 200 basis points in one-and-a-half years. The central bank’s remarks were in response to full-year inflation

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2026 budget to deliver trimmed growth outlook – Balisacan

NewsWatch Plus staff — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:56:12 +0000

Manila, Philippines – Economic managers of the Marcos administration expect the economy to expand at a pace slower than originally programmed this year and until the end of his term in 2028, economic minister Arsenio Balisacan said on Monday, Jan. 5, amid a more prudent national budget that reined in possible leaks in the wake

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Economy grew by 5.5 percent in Q2 – PSA

Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring, NewsWatch Plus — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 20:57:07 +0000

The Philippine economy expanded by 5.5 percent in the second quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Thursday, Aug. 7, driven by a strong rebound in agriculture output and solid household consumption.

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