central bank 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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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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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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Philippine borrowing cost now at three-year-low 4.5% after rate cut

Lois Calderon — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:08:54 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has delivered a widely expected rate cut at its last policy meeting for the year saying the economy will need some support from lower borrowing costs. The benchmark policy rate now stands at 4.5 percent, a three-year-low after the policymaking Monetary Board slashed it by a

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Inflation cools to three-month low despite higher utility, fuel costs

Lois Calderon — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:16:43 +0000

Manila, Philippines – Inflation, or the pace at which consumer prices rise, cooled to a three-month low in November, as softer food inflation offset the price pressures from a round of oil price hikes and higher tariffs for water and power. The inflation print last month was 1.5 percent, slowing from October’s 1.7 percent and

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BSP drops hints ahead of Dec. 11 rate-setting meet

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:54:27 +0000

Manila, Philippines – A rate cut is “not assured” when the policymaking Monetary Board meets next week, but a cooling economy at a pace below desired would be a factor in where borrowing costs will go, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona, Jr. said on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The central bank is scheduled to

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