The Makati Business Club (MBC) on Monday welcomed the signing of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), saying the new budget marks a clear step up from recent fiscal plans, particularly in its focus on education, agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Headline inflation accelerated to 1.8 percent in December 2025, its fastest pace since March last year, as higher food prices and quicker increases in clothing and footwear pushed overall prices up, government data showed. The latest figure marked a rebound from November’s slower pace but remained well below December 2024’s 2.9 percent, highlighting easing price pressures over the year.

The country closed November with fuller rice granaries, even as corn inventories cooled heading into December—signaling mixed dynamics in staple food supply chains.