Analysts expect inflation at around 3.8% for March

A BusinessWorld poll [link] of 17 Philippine economists on March inflation rate projections revealed a median of 3.8%, with a high of 4.1% and a low of 3.5%. The BSP projected that March inflation will come in somewhere between 3.4% and 4.2%. The BSP’s 2024 inflation target range is 2.0% to 4.0%. February inflation was 3.4%.

 

MB bottom-line: Glass half-full analysis would say that at least the median 3.8% figure is within the BSP’s projection range, and more importantly, within the BSP’s target range for FY24. Glass half-empty analysis would say that the median figure represents the second-straight month of increased inflation that, while still within the target range, represents a real and growing threat to our buying power when it comes to the things most basic and essential to life like food and transportation. How will the BSP see the glass? We’ll find out on Monday.

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