Business World
Foreign investment pledges up 52.3%
FOREIGN INVESTMENT pledges in the Philippines rose by 52.3% in the first quarter from a low base a year earlier, although commitments fell to their lowest level in four quarters as analysts cited geopolitical uncertainty, elevated costs, and weaker...
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Misery index worsens in March, highest in nearly two years
The Philippines’ adjusted misery index soared to a 23-month high of 20.8% in March from 18.7% in February. It was the worst reading in nearly two years since it logged 21.8% in April 2024. The worsening of the index was driven by inflation accelerating...
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Can domestic savings cover the country’s increasing investment needs?
The country’s savings rate — defined as gross domestic savings as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) — reached 6.1% in the first three months of the year, amounting to P423 billion. Meanwhile, the investment rate was 20.9% of GDP, or P1.45...
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How does the Philippines compare in governance performance among its peers in the region?
The Philippines ranked 129th out of 208 countries in the 2026 Global Governance Climate Index (GCI) published by the International Labour Organization (ILO). On a scale of 0 to 1, where a higher score indicates strong organizational governance, the...
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Q2 growth outlook remains weak
PHILIPPINE gross domestic product (GDP) likely remained below the government’s 5-6% growth target in the second quarter as higher oil prices and tighter financial conditions continued to dampen domestic demand, analysts said. This as the Development...
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Oil shock drags growth to 5-year low
THE Philippine economy grew by a weaker-than-expected 2.8% in the first quarter, the slowest pace since the pandemic, as the fallout from a corruption scandal and soaring oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict dampened economic...
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PSA: 2.58 million Filipinos jobless in March
THE Philippine unemployment rate in March rose to 5%, as the number of jobless Filipinos jumped to 2.58 million amid the oil crisis, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. Preliminary results from the March 2026 Labor Force Survey released on...
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April inflation heats up to 3-year high
ELEVATED oil prices continued to feed into food and utility costs, pushing annual inflation to a three-year high of 7.2% in April, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday. Faster-than-expected inflation now puts more pressure on the...
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Q1 growth likely still weak amid flood mess fallout, rising inflation
PHILIPPINE economic growth likely remained muted in the first quarter, weighed down by the lingering fallout from the flood control scandal and rising costs driven by the oil crisis, analysts said. In a report dated May 1, Nomura Global Markets...
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Poll: GDP growth likely slowed in Q1
THE Philippine economy likely lost momentum in the first quarter, weighed down by weak household purchasing power, subdued government spending, fragile business confidence, and rising global energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict, economists...
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April inflation may hit 3-year high
PHILIPPINE INFLATION likely accelerated to as high as 6.4% in April, driven by higher prices of fuel, electricity and food amid the war in the Middle East, as well as a weaker peso, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Tuesday. In its...
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Q1 growth may slow amid Iran war
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY likely slowed in the first quarter as the prolonged Middle East war weighed on activity, with growth expected to fall below recent quarters and miss the government’s full-year target, the Economy chief said. Economy, Planning,...
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Manila ranks 91st in Global Green Finance Index, lags behind its East and Southeast Asian peers
Manila ranked 91st out of 92 financial centers in the 17th edition of the Global Green Finance Index (GGFI) released by commercial think tank Z/Yen Group as part of its Long Finance initiative. With an overall rating of 512, the Philippine capital...
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Philippines logs over 624,000 breached accounts in Q1
The Philippines ranked 22nd out of 250 countries and territories with a total of 624,405 breached accounts in the first three months of the year, according to the latest data from Surfshark’s Global Data Breach Statistics. This was higher by 76.8% from...
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Philippine business sentiment plummets in March
Firms in the country were severely pessimistic due to the conflict in the Middle East, the latest business expectations survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. The confidence index for businesses fell to -24.3% in March from 8.2% in...
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Year-on-year rental change of select East and Southeast Asian Markets
Manila’s prime office rent was the third cheapest among 24 Asia-Pacific markets in the first quarter, according to the latest Asia-Pacific Office Highlights by real estate consultancy Knight Frank. During the period, Manila’s occupancy cost reached...
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PHL rice imports may hit 4.8 MMT
THE PHILIPPINES’ rice imports this year could reach 4.8 million metric tons (MMT), potentially matching or exceeding the elevated level recorded in 2024, as rising input costs and a looming El Niño threaten domestic output, the Department of...
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How miserable is the Philippines compared to its neighbors in 2025?
The Philippines ranked 131st out of 178 countries in the 2025 edition of the Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI) by Johns Hopkins University economics professor Steve H. Hanke. The HAMI is the sum of the unemployment rate multiplied by two, the...
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Vehicle sales fall in March as high oil prices dent demand
NEW VEHICLE SALES declined by 10.4% in March as soaring pump prices dented demand for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, according to a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck...
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Philippines retains ‘partly free’ status in global freedom report
The Philippines maintained its “partly free” status with an overall score of 58 out of 100 in the 2026 edition of the annual Freedom in the World report by US nonprofit organization Freedom House. The report assesses the condition of political rights...
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IMF: PHL faces ‘difficult situation’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philippines is facing a difficult situation as its heavy reliance on oil imports tests its economic resilience amid the ongoing energy crisis from the Middle East war, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said. At a press...
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Misery index inches down in February
The Philippines’ adjusted misery index fell to 18.7% in February from 20.3% in January. This is the lowest reading in two months or since the 13.8% posted in December 2025. The drop reflected the easing of the country’s unemployment rate at 5.1% and...
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Philippines lands at 17th in global opportunity ranking
The Philippines ranked 17th out of 188* countries and territories in the 2026 edition of the CS Global Partners’ Opportunity Index. By measuring a country’s indicators of economic potential, the index evaluates its opportunity level as a destination...
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Philippines falls in FDI Confidence Index
The Philippines slipped two places to 18th out of 25 emerging markets in the latest edition of Kearney’s FDI Confidence Index. With an index score of 1.4635, the country remained to be among the least attractive markets for foreign direct investment...
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Philippines inches up in global state and governance ranking
The Philippines rose one spot to 58th out of 137 countries in the Status Index and also climbed a notch to 82nd in the Governance Index in the latest edition of the biennial Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index (BTI). Despite the improvement in...
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Banks’ bad loan ratio hits 6-month high in Feb.
THE PHILIPPINE BANKING sector’s gross nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio rose to a sixmonth high in February, preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. Domestic banks’ gross NPL ratio increased to 3.33% as of endFebruary from...
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Infrastructure spending slumps in December
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING slumped by an annual 28% in December as tighter controls remained in place amid the corruption scandal, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said. Latest data from the DBM showed that spending on infrastructure and...
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Oil shock brings inflation to 4.1%
FASTER PRICE INCREASES in fuel, electricity and food including rice, drove Philippine inflation past the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) target for the first time in nearly two years, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported. The consumer...
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Iran conflict raises Philippines’ risk in Economic Crime and Geopolitics Index
The Philippines’ Economic Crime and Geopolitics Index (ECGI) score climbed to 72.6 in April, placing it firmly in the high-risk category — second only to Myanmar in Southeast Asia — as the Iran conflict escalated. The index, published by the South Asia...
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Poll: March inflation picked up to 3.8%
SHARP OIL PRICE increases driven by supply disruptions from the Middle East war, along with pricier rice, may have pushed Philippine inflation to its fastest pace in nearly two years, analysts said. A BusinessWorld poll of 18 analysts yielded a median...
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Manila slips in smart cities’ ranking, still the worst in the region
The Philippine capital slid seven places to 132nd out of 148 cities assessed in the 2026 edition of the Smart City Index by Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD). This was Manila’s worst ranking since the report...
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Peso hits new low P60.69 vs dollar
THE PESO slid to an all-time low against the US dollar on Monday as soaring oil prices raise concerns over inflation and an economic slowdown. The local unit declined by 14 centavos to close at P60.69 against the greenback from its previous record-low...
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Philippines’ Academic Freedom Index score drops to over 40-year low
The Philippines’ score dropped to an over four-decade low of 0.589 (out of 1, where 1 is best) in the 2026 update of the Academic Freedom Index. The report, released by the researchers from Germany’s Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg...
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BSP holds rates in off-cycle meeting
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept its policy rate unchanged at 4.25% during a surprise off-cycle meeting on Thursday, as it sought to calm markets amid growing concerns over the impact of the Middle East war on the economy. In a statement,...
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Marcos: PHL oil secure past 45 days
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said the Philippines has secured enough fuel supply to last beyond 45 days despite disruptions caused by war in the Middle East, as the government scrambles to line up alternative sources and ensure existing contracts...
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Philippines improves in women’s health ranking but still lags among its peers in the region
The Philippines improved two places to 107th out of 144 countries and territories in the latest edition of The Hologic Global Women’s Health Index by global medical technology company Hologic, Inc. Out of a possible 100, where higher scores are better,...
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Filipino young adults face mental health crisis more than older adults
The Philippines’ average Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) for young adults aged 18-34 rose to 59 while adults (ages 55 and above) have an average MHQ of 110 in the latest edition of the Global Mind Health Report, formerly the Mental State of the World...
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Philippines ranks 3rd most impacted by terrorism in Asia-Pacific
The Philippines improved* by two places to 23rd out of 163 countries in the latest edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Despite its rank improvement,* the country scored 4.719, above the Asia-Pacific’s...
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Peso hits new low of P60.1 per dollar
THE PHILIPPINE PESO sank to a fresh record low on Thursday, breaching the P60-per-dollar mark and heightening inflation risks from more expensive imports. The local currency closed at a new record low of P60.10 a dollar — 58 centavos weaker than its...
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BSP tracks Mideast war impact on PHL
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it is closely monitoring the impact of the escalating Middle East war on inflation and the broader economy as it prepares for its April 23 policy meeting. “Ahead of the monetary-policy meeting on April 23,...
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Misery index worsens to 20.3% in January, highest in nearly 2 years
The Philippines’ adjusted misery index soared to an 18-month high of 20.3% in January from 13.8% in December 2025. The latest figure marked the fastest reading in almost two years or since the 20.7% in July 2024. Philippine inflation accelerating to an...
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Philippines rises in Index of Economic Freedom
The Philippines improved to 77th out of 176 countries in the 2026 edition of the Index of Economic Freedom by The Heritage Foundation. The index scores and ranks a country based on its freedoms in various internal and external aspects. This year, the...
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BDO retains lead; U/KBs’ assets grow 8.54% in Q4
In the latest BusinessWorld’s quarterly banking report, the combined assets of 44 universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) in the country grew by 8.54% year on year to P28.92 trillion in the October to December period. BDO Unibank, Inc., retained its...
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Oil shock may prompt BSP rate hike
OIL PRICE SHOCKS may prompt the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to hike its policy rate as early as its next meeting in April amid the risk of inflation breaching the central bank’s target band in March, an economist said. Security Bank Chief...
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FDI net inflows fall to 5-year low in 2025
Annual foreign direct investments net inflow (FDI, in $ million)
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Oil shock to bring inflation above 4%
THE IRAN war could trim 0.2-0.3% from the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year, as the oil shock could drive inflation to above 4% this year, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan...
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Peso, stocks sink as oil prices surge
THE PHILIPPINE PESO plunged to a new record low against the dollar on Monday while the main stock benchmark recorded its steepest single-day drop since 2020 as global oil prices spiked, threatening to drive up inflation as the war in the Middle East...
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Inflation quickens to 13-month high
PHILIPPINE INFLATION accelerated to a 13-month high in February as rising costs for rice, fuel, electricity and other utilities added pressure on household budgets, the Philippine Statistics Authority said on Thursday. The consumer price index (CPI)...
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How does the Philippines compare with its neighbors in mining attractiveness?
The Philippines’ mining investment attractiveness ranking fell last year as it plunged 49 places to 65th out of 68 jurisdictions in the 2025 Annual Survey of Mining Companies by Fraser Institute. This put the Philippines as the fourth worst mining...
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Budget gap exceeds ceiling in 2025
THE NATIONAL Government’s (NG) budget deficit breached its 2025 ceiling after the main tax agencies missed their collection targets and state spending slowed amid a corruption scandal, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said. Data from the Treasury...
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Factory activity surges in February
PHILIPPINE FACTORY activity in February expanded at its fastest pace in eight years amid an increase in production and new orders as well as a “surge in business confidence,” S&P Global said on Monday. However, the US-Iran conflict may cause a spike...
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Poll: Inflation likely picked up in Feb.
PHILIPPINE INFLATION may have hit its fastest pace in over a year as price pressures from higher costs of electricity, oil and rice pushed up the headline print in February, analysts said. The consumer price index (CPI) likely settled at 2.4% in...
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PHL economy still strong, says S&P
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS continues to see strong credit rating prospects for the Philippines as it remains optimistic on the country’s growth fundamentals despite drags from the recent flood control corruption scandal. Speaking at a webinar on Thursday, Yee...
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PHL faces climate-related credit risk
THE PHILIPPINES is among the countries most vulnerable to climaterelated credit risks as extreme weather imperils the country’s economic and fiscal stability, Fitch Ratings said. “We expect physical climate risks to have an adverse (effect) on the...
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Philippines steadies in Military Strength Index
The Philippines remained in 41st place out of 145 countries in the 2026 edition of the Military Strength Ranking by Global Firepower with a PowerIndex score of 0.6993. The ranking utilizes over 60 individual factors to determine a nation’s PowerIndex...
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Further easing seen amid growth woes
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) may extend its easing cycle this year to provide the Philippine economy with more support as lingering uncertainty continues to test consumer and business confidence, analysts said. “Against this backdrop of...
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DoF to review OECD call to phase out VAT exemptions for senior citizens, private schools
THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) is reviewing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) suggestion for the Philippines to remove the value-added tax (VAT) exemptions for senior citizens, private education and healthcare...
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Philippines leads ASEAN in women’s representation in government
The Philippines ranked 70th* among 193 United Nations member states in the latest edition of the Women’s Power Index by think tank Council on Foreign Relations. On a scale of 0-100, where 100 represents women having at least 50% representation in all...
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Financial system resources hit P36.9T
THE TOTAL RESOURCES of the Philippine financial system climbed by 8.08% year on year to nearly P37 trillion at the end of 2025, preliminary central bank data showed. Resources held by banks and nonbank financial institutions (NBFIs) rose to P36.932...
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OFW remittances hit record $35.6B
MONEY SENT HOME by Filipinos abroad jumped to a record high of $35.634 billion in 2025, with the weak peso boosting gains from dollar conversion, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Monday. BSP data showed total cash remittances rose by...
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Philippines 6 th most breached country among neighbors in Q4 2025
The Philippines placed 28th out of 250 countries and territories with a total of 250,437 breached accounts in the fourth quarter, latest data from Surfshark’s Global Data Breach Statistics showed. This was lower by 47.6% from the previous quarter....
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Philippines falls in labor resilience index
The Philippines dropped one spot to 63rd out of 120 countries in the 2026 edition of The Global Labour Resilience Index (GLRI) by public advisory firm Whiteshield. Out of a possible 100, the country scored 46.71, below the East Asia and Pacific...
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Labor productivity in the Philippines eases to 3.7% in Q4
The country’s labor productivity slowed down to 3.7% year on year to P130,353 in the final three months of 2025. This was slower than the 5.3% expansion in the same period a year earlier and the 4.6% in the third quarter of 2025. Labor productivity is...
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Dollar reserves hit 16-month high
THE PESO could gain some support even amid some volatility in the foreign exchange market as the Philippines’ dollar reserves hit its highest level in over a year, analysts said. “The relatively higher GIR (is seen) to provide a greater buffer for the...
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Inflation accelerates to 2% in Jan.
PHILIPPINE INFLATION accelerated to its fastest pace in nearly a year in January amid a faster rise in rents and electricity rates, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported. Headline inflation picked up to 2% from 1.8% in December but slowed...
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S&P: PHL on track for rating upgrade
THE PHILIPPINES remains on track for a possible credit rating upgrade as improving fiscal and external balances outweigh risks from the government’s flood control controversy, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings said. “We also see the Philippine...
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PHL, Japan finalize amended double taxation deal
THE PHILIPPINES and Japan have finalized an amended double taxation convention (DTC) aimed at keeping bilateral economic ties aligned with the evolving global business climate, the Department of Finance (DoF) said. The DTC was finalized after one...
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Jan. factory PMI at nine-month high
PHILIPPINE FACTORY activity in January expanded at its fastest pace in nine months amid an increase in production and new orders, S&P Global said on Monday. However, the latest improvement could be short-lived as business confidence remained weak due...
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January inflation seen holding at 1.8%
PHILIPPINE INFLATION likely held steady in January as lower electricity charges and easing vegetable prices helped offset pressures from higher food and fuel costs and a weaker peso, economists said ahead of official data. A BusinessWorld survey of 18...
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BSP may tighten oversight on cryptocurrency
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) is working on regulations to tighten oversight on cryptocurrencies as part of efforts to deter crimes involving dirty money. BSP General Counsel Roberto L. Figueroa said they plan to issue regulations that would...
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Farm output jumps 2.6% in 2025
THE PHILIPPINES’ agricultural production grew by 2.6% in 2025, the fastest pace in eight years, as gains in crop output and strong poultry performance offset the decline in livestock and fisheries, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. Data...
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Trade gap falls to 4-year low in 2025
THE Philippines’ trade-in-goods deficit narrowed to a four-year low in 2025, as exports rose by doubledigits and import growth remained muted, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday. Analysts said that the narrower trade deficit...
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ADB sees PHL returning to 6% growth by 2027
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY could return to around 6% growth by 2027 if public and private investments rebound, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries. “I think (the drivers are a) kind of a little of...
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Poll: GDP growth likely slowed in Q4
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY likely expanded at a slower pace in the fourth quarter of 2025, bringing full-year growth below the government’s target amid a corruption scandal, analysts said. Gross domestic product (GDP) may have grown by an annual 4.2% from...
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LoA issuance to resume within Q1
THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) may resume the issuance of letters of authority (LoA) within the first quarter, as the agency seeks to boost revenue collection. Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said tax audits should be resumed as the BIR seeks...
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