Philippine economy posts 2.8% Q1 growth, slowest since 2021

8 articles · Updated · MarketWatch · May 7

The Philippine Statistics Authority said output rose 0.9% quarter on quarter, below Wall Street Journal poll forecasts of 3.5% annual and 1.1% quarterly growth.
The slowdown follows the late-February Middle East war, which has lifted energy costs, broadened inflation pressures and increased risks that weak growth could stall further.
After 2025 growth fell to a five-year low, the central bank now expects inflation to exceed its 4% ceiling in 2026 and 2027, fuelling bets on a 50-basis-point rate rise.

Trapped by stagflation, can the Philippines curb soaring inflation without plunging its slowing economy into a deep recession?

With business confidence at a 25-year low, what can the government do to prevent a massive flight of investment?

Could this economic crisis finally force the Philippines to break its crippling dependence on volatile imported oil?