The average price of regular milled rice fell 20 percent year-on-year to P40.66 per kilo in the first half of August, potentially easing overall inflation if the downtrend holds through month-end.
Treasury bill yields declined at Monday’s auction as investors shifted focus back to short-term debt following the auction of five-year retail treasury bonds last week, and amid growing anticipation of potential monetary policy easing.
Inflation in the Philippines eased to its lowest level in six years in July, driven by falling prices of rice, other food items, and utilities. The headline inflation rate slowed to 0.9 percent, down from 1.4 percent in June, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Treasury bill yields moved mostly lower at Monday’s auction, as investors braced for a raft of key economic reports that could influence future monetary policy direction.
Wall Street roared higher Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter-percentage point and Chairman Jerome Powell all but shut the door on any future hikes.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday after noting cooler labor-market momentum and persistent uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has increased the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of red onions to P150 per kilo from P120, effective December 11, citing higher import costs and a weaker peso.