The country’s headline inflation likely decelerated further in April due to lower prices, analysts polled by The Manila Times said. Forecasts for the month ranged from 1.8 to 2.2 percent with a 2.0-percent average, down from the 2.5-percent inflation rate in March. Luis Limlingan, head of sales of Regina Capital, said contributing factors to the lower inflation rate during the month include lower fuel, transportation and utilities prices. Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said April inflation likely settled at 2.1 percent. UnionBank of the Philippines chief economist Carlo Asuncion, meanwhile, said inflation is anticipated to be lower month-on-month at 2.0 percent.

Source: Manila Times May 03, 2020 16:17 UTC