MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippine central bank signaled on Monday it may deliver the first of two remaining interest rate cuts this year at its August 28 policy meeting as inflation remained subdued.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona said it was “quite likely” the bank would lower its key policy rate later this month, reiterating its easing bias to support growth amid global uncertainties and as inflation continues to slow.
“Things look good,” Remolona told a forum organised by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, adding that inflation could fall to 2% this year, the bottom of the BSP’s target range.
Cooling prices have underpinned domestic demand, with the economy expanding 5.5% in the second quarter, slightly faster than the 5.4% growth in the previous quarter. Annual inflation eased to 0.9% in July, the lowest since October 2019, bringing the year-to-date average to 1.7%.
Remolona told Reuters on July 28 the BSP was on track to cut rates two more times in 2025. The key rate now stands at 5.25%, a two-and-a-half-year low. After this month’s meeting, the BSP will have two more policy meetings before year-end.
(Reporting by Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema; Editing by David Stanway, John Mair and Sonali Paul)
