August inflation forecast
at 3.0%-3.3%
September 4, 2003 - As prices of consumer commodities remained
stable, rising domestic fuel and food prices could have failed
to ease the country's inflation rate in August. MBC forecasts
a 3.0% to 3.3% inflation rate last August from 3.3% in July.
Oil companies raised pump prices of their fuel products twice
in August by an average of P0.90 per liter due to rising crude
oil prices abroad and depreciating exchange rate. Monsoon rains
could have led to an uptick in food prices.