Lower food prices in February contributed to a drop in inflation to 2.1 percent for the month. This was slower than both central bank and market forecasts, and marked a significant decline from 2.9 percent in January.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto hailed the significant drop in inflation to 2.1 percent in February, marking the lowest rate since October 2024. He said the reduction provides vital relief to lower-income families, particularly on food prices. The bottom 30 percent income group's inflation rate fell to 1.5 percent, further easing the financial strain on vulnerable sectors.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez welcomed the unexpected deceleration in February inflation, calling it “great news for every Filipino family.” Inflation slowed to 2.1% in February, below the lower end of the central bank’s 2.2%-3.0% forecast, a sign the economic policies of the Marcos administration are working. “This proves that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s economic team is getting the job done,” he said. Romualdez said the administration is unwavering in its focus on stabilizing prices, ensuring food security, and protecting the purchasing power of Filipinos. The House of Representatives is fully supporting these efforts by passing laws to lower food costs, stabilize energy prices, and create more jobs. “The past few years have been tough, but numbers don’t lie—our economy is getting stronger,” Romualdez added. “This is the result of sound leadership, strong policies, and the resilience of the Filipino people.”
Inflation in the Philippines for February defied expectations, slowing to a lower-than-anticipated 2.1 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This marked a significant drop from January’s 2.9 percent and was below the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) forecast range of 2.2 percent to 3 percent.
Moody’s Analytics said Filipino consumers should still reel from skyrocketing prices in the first six months this year as demand continues to outpace supply in the domestic market.
The lack of reliable transport services, far more than the lack of access to electricity or access to safe water sources, remains the biggest hindrance to economic expansion among countries in Asia and the Pacific like the Philippines, the Asia Development Bank said.
The inter-agency Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has issued a warning to content creators in the country, urging them to stop promoting illegal online gambling platforms.
Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste has begun distributing P1,000 allowances to over 150,000 public school students in his district, using personal funds through his Lingkod Legarda Leviste Foundation.