Philippine financial markets started the week on a softer note as stocks recovered from last week’s rally while the peso erased its previous session’s recovery.
Nearly seven in 10 are anxious about money as rising costs, healthcare, retirement, and family responsibilities put pressure on household finances.
The nation’s total fertility rate is at a record low of 1.7 children per woman — well below the 2.1 replacement level.
BSP says lower foreign direct investment inflows could weigh on business expansion despite stronger equity investments.
Underemployment dropped to 12.2% while Filipinos logged longer working hours, pointing to improving job quality for many workers.
Philippine financial markets remained on positive footing as stocks notched a fifth straight day of gains while the peso recovered from its previous session’s decline.
The investment is seen to protect 2,000 jobs, create up to 2,000 more, fund exploration in Mindanao, and double the Masbate mine’s solar capacity.
Food inflation slowed to 5.4% as rice, fish and meat posted softer price increases, but vegetable inflation accelerated to 9%, keeping grocery bills uneven for Filipino households.
Weak Q1 expansion of only 2.8% forces government to lower full year target, with officials banking on stronger infrastructure spending and easing inflation to lift growth in the second half.
An economist urges the public to seek a more balanced discussion of the country’s economic condition.
