PH outlook slashed, inflation seen surging

THE Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office has lowered its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines with the country expected to post one of the steepest inflation increases in the region. In an interim update to its regional economic outlook, the Singapore-based macroeconomic surveillance organization said it now expected the Philippines to grow by just 4.1 percent this year instead of 5.3 percent previously. The forecast for 2027 was also cut to 5.5 percent from 5.8 percent. The 2026 outlook, i