• Philippine central bank says inflation in December likely within the range of 3.6% to 4.4% y/y, from 4.1% in November.
• Higher rice, meat prices primary sources of upward price pressures
• Lower cost of power, fuel, fish, vegetables expected to contribute to downward price pressures
• “Going forward, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will continue to monitor developments affecting the outlook for inflation and growth in line with its data dependent approach to monetary policy decision-making,” central bank says in statement