MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said headline inflation for April 2026 is expected to settle within the 5.6% to 6.4% range.
In a statement on Thursday, April 30, the central bank warned that inflation risks have intensified due to a combination of upward price pressures.
These include higher domestic petroleum prices and rising costs of staple food items such as rice, fish and meat.
The BSP also pointed to increased electricity charges and the continued depreciation of the Philippine peso as primary drivers of the anticipated increase.
While the central bank noted that a projected decline in vegetable and fruit prices may help temper the overall headline figure, it said prevailing upside pressures require close monitoring.
“The BSP will remain vigilant and guided by incoming data, specifically on inflation and growth prospects. We will continue to monitor recent developments in the Middle East for their implications on inflation and economic activity,” the central bank said.
On April 7, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that March inflation accelerated to 4.1% from 2.4% in February.
This was attributed to a series of increases in retail petroleum prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.