Exports fall a 4th month, widen trade gap
MERCHANDISE TRADE remained a drag on overall economic growth last quarter, as export receipts declined for the fourth straight month in March while import payments continued to increase.
Farm output nearly flat in Q1
A NEARLY FLAT farm output marked the first quarter, slowing from a small increment a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Thursday a day ahead of its gross domestic product (GDP) report for the same period, noting that increases in livestock, poultry and fisheries output narrowly offset a drop in crops that accounted for half of total value of production.
Treasurer signals euro bond sale within the month
THE COUNTRY’s planned benchmark-sized euro-denominated notes will likely be offered “very very soon,” the head of the Bureau of the Treasury told reporters in Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, saying the government is still watching market developments for the right time to sell the debt papers.
Inflation slowest in 16 months in April
INFLATION eased for the sixth straight month to its slowest pace in 16 months in April, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday, giving more room for the central bank to loosen monetary policy.
Manufacturing falls for 4th month
FACTORY OUTPUT posted its fourth consecutive month of decline in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.
TUCP seeks P386 across-the-board Region 7 wage hike
A WEEK after filing its plea for a P710 across-the-board increase for Metro Manila’s private sector workers, the country’s biggest labor group filed a petition for a P386 increase for private sector employees in Central Visayas.
Meralco: May bills to slip on lower generation charge
AFTER RISING for three straight months, electricity rates will go down by P0.2728 per kilowatt-hour (/kWh) in May, resulting in a P55 reduction for the monthly bill of a typical household consuming 200 kWh, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced on Tuesday.
Corporate tax reform OK seen in 2 years
THE EXECUTIVE is aiming for the country to bag another credit upgrade within two years by enacting remaining tax reforms, the Finance chief said on Monday, but the Senate president said he could commit approval of only the corporate tax component of that program within that period.
SC requires bidding for all power supply agreements
THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has ordered all power supply agreements (PSA) submitted by distribution utilities (DU) to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on or after June 30, 2015 to undergo competitive selection process (CSP).
Rising wages said eroding Asia’s competitiveness
RISING minimum wages across Northeast and Southeast Asia will “gradually” erode the competitiveness of economies in these regions, Fitch Solutions Group Ltd said in a May 3 note e-mailed to journalists on Monday.
RRR could be cut should inflation slow
INFLATION likely slowed in April as food prices continued to drop, analysts said, even as they were divided on the central bank’s next policy move, with some expecting a steady stance despite room to ease and a cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) instead.
Poll sees muted 1st quarter GDP growth on 2019 budget delay
ECONOMISTS expect gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter to be weighed down primarily by the impact of the delayed enactment of the 2019 national budget despite household spending and private sector investment picking up, according to results of a BusinessWorld poll.