Economy
Slower November inflation bolsters case for BSP rate cut
Inflation cooled to 1.5 percent in November, its slowest pace in three months, as rice and corn prices stayed down and cost pressures across several key consumer items eased, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported Friday.
Lending slows but liquidity growth picks up in October
The outstanding loans from universal and commercial banks continued to rise in October although growth eased a bit. Preliminary Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data show bank lending grew 10.3 percent year-on-year, down from 10.5 percent in September. On a month-to-month basis, lending increased 0.6 percent after seasonal adjustments.
State guarantee to power wider SME loans under DCFC partnership
State-owned Philippine Guarantee Corp. (Philguarantee) has partnered with Discovery Capital Finance Corp. (DCFC) to widen credit access for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
Export targets trimmed, push for growth intensified
The Department of Trade and Industry has trimmed its export ambitions—but not its appetite for acceleration.
Gov’t debt piles higher on peso slide, new borrowing
The outstanding debt of the national government climbed to P17.56 trillion in October, rising by P106.78 billion from September as fresh borrowings and a weaker peso pushed obligations to a new record high.
