Less Filipinos jobless, seeking more work
LATEST data show a decline in the country’s unemployment rate and underemployment rates in January, the government’s statistical agency reported on Thursday.
Electricity bills higher this month — Meralco
DISTRIBUTION utility Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced on Thursday a slight increase in the overall electricity rates for March to P10.4961 per kilowatt-hour (/kWh), up by P0.0894/kWh from the P10.4067/kWh in February.
FX reserves grow for fourth month
FOREIGN CURRENCY reserves rose in February for the fourth straight month, the central bank reported on Thursday, marked by higher investment income at a time of a stronger peso.
Diokno says to ‘expedite’ RRR cut
MONETARY POLICY easing could well be on the horizon in the face of easing headline inflation, central bank officials signalled on Wednesday.
Infrastructure, other capital outlays breach 2018 program
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT infrastructure and other capital outlays exceeded the 2018 program, driven by road and bridge networks, flood control projects and military modernization among others, despite a drop in December, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported on Wednesday.
Villar leads other Philippine billionaires on Forbes’ richest list
REAL ESTATE tycoon Manuel B. Villar, Jr. is now the country’s richest man, rising past other Filipinos on Forbes Magazine’s annual list of world billionaires released on Tuesday.
Asia still tops in minting billionaires
HONG KONG -- Asia will see the fastest billionaire population growth in the world over the next four years, despite economic uncertainties in the region triggered by the China-US trade war.
Inflation back on track at one-year low
INFLATION eased for the fourth straight month and on to target in February to post the lowest reading in 12 months, helped by milder increases in the prices of food and beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.
Financial industry awaits Diokno’s first signals
THE COUNTRY’S financial sector awaits clear cues from newly appointed Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, with expectations that his outsider view will make monetary policy more supportive of the state’s growth goals by way of lower interest rates.
Jan. factory output down for 2nd straight month
FACTORY output posted its second consecutive month of decline in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.
Duterte picks Diokno as new BSP chief
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has chosen Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno to replace the late Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr., who died of cancer last Feb. 23, top administration officials announced on Monday night.
GDP growth to pick up as inflation slows
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY can be expected to grow faster this quarter and for the full year as slowing inflation spurs consumer spending, while state infrastructure spending and private construction should be able to sustain “their elevated trajectory,” according to separate analyses released on Monday.