Tuesday, March 19, 2024
News

Philippines' inflation rate eases to 6.1%

   SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend    Print this Page   COMMENT

Manila | Thursday, 2023 11:59:28 AM IST
Year-on-year inflation in the Philippines slowed further to 6.1 per cent in May from 6.6 per cent in April due to lower transport and food costs, officials said on Tuesday.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed inflation rate in May 2022 was still lower at 5.4 per cent. The average inflation rate from January to May this year stood at 7.5 per cent, reports Xinhua news agency.

"This is the fourth consecutive month of deceleration in the headline inflation in the country," PSA head Dennis Mapa told a news conference.

Mapa said the main drivers that pulled down the inflation rate in May were transport, which declined to -0.5 per cent from 2.6 per cent in April; food and non-alcoholic beverages, which dropped to 7.4 per cent from 7.9 per cent in April; and restaurants and accommodation services, which slowed to 8.3 per cent from 8.6 per cent in the previous month.

Meanwhile, Mapa said core inflation, excluding selected food and energy items in the headline inflation, slowed to 7.7 per cent in May from 7.9 per cent in April.

"We are confident that we can achieve the government's inflation target this year as we work closely with concerned government agencies in monitoring the primary drivers of inflation," National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Aside from slower food and transportation inflation that contributed to the steady slowdown in May, Balisacan said fish and eggs prices eased due to increased local production.

The decline in international prices of wheat and dairy also contributed to the slower inflation, he added.

According to Balisacan, as risks to inflation outlook lean toward the upside due to potential increases in transport fares, wage adjustments, higher electricity rates, and domestic prices of key food items resulting from the impact of El Nino, the government is working to implement necessary interventions as the country aims to keep prices low and stable.

For short-term measures, Balisacan stressed the need to fill local supply gaps through timely importation, ensure sufficient rice buffers during El Nino, and strengthen biosecurity.

Balisacan also said that the government's economic team will announce this week the slower inflation target for this year.

The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts inflation in the Philippines to average 6.2 per cent in 2023 before easing to 4 per cent in 2024.

--IANS ksk/

( 400 Words)

2023-06-06-15:00:05 (IANS)

 
  LATEST COMMENTS (0)
POST YOUR COMMENT
Comments Not Available
 
POST YOUR COMMENT
 
 
TRENDING TOPICS
 
 
CITY NEWS
MORE CITIES
 
 
 
MORE WORLD NEWS
Israel: New program expected to reduce h...
US Special Representative for Afghanista...
India at G20 meeting in Brasilia highlig...
Unsettled borders with China, rise of Ch...
Taliban targets Pakistan's military post...
Judge denies Donald Trump's request to e...
More...
 
INDIA WORLD ASIA
Part of ongoing anti-piracy operation: A...
TMC's Derek O'Biren calls for 'Supreme C...
Lok Sabha polls: Congress leader Rohan G...
Tamil Nadu: PMK announces alliance with ...
'Congress not getting candidates to cont...
Indian Navy's Remotely Piloted Aircraft ...
More...    
 
 Top Stories
D2C Pavilion at Startup Mahakumbh S... 
Startup Mahakumbh Witnesses Engagin... 
Fintech Leaders Spark Innovation an... 
Startup Mahakumbh's AI & SaaS P... 
Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim urg... 
The Stage Is Set for India to Rise ... 
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Soni... 
Adani Vizhinjam Port wins Internati...