The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Suzuki Philippines reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Jimny community by supporting the recent Jimnyfest 2025, the largest gathering of Suzuki Jimny enthusiasts in the country, organized by The Jimny Hub last Feb. 27 to March 1 at The Nest Resort and Campgrounds. The event brought together a passionate community of adventurers, united by their love for the iconic Suzuki …

GWM Philippines, under the Luxuriant Automotive Group Inc., formally announced the appointment of its new brand head and marketing director who will be reporting straight to its president. Dax Avenido, who has over two decades in the local automotive industry, will be head the marketing efforts toward a more strategic and comprehensive direction that will drive the brand to new …

Factory output in the Philippines posted faster growth in January, both in volume and value, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Data released on Friday showed that the value of production index (VaPI) increased by 4 percent in January, a significant improvement from the 0.4 percent growth recorded in December 2024.  This also marked a turnaround from the -1.4 …

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto welcomed the creation of 2.6 million additional jobs for Filipinos at the start of 2025, expressing optimism over the increasing participation of youth in the labor market. “This good news affirms that our efforts to unlock the full potential of our demographic sweet spot are paying off. Through targeted government action and strategic reforms, we are …

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued its first yellow alert for the Luzon grid this year, citing insufficient operating margin as temperatures continued to rise. The alert was in effect from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the highest heat index in Luzon reached 42°C …

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said last week that the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) law has encouraged Japanese companies to invest in the Philippines. Roque and Special Assistant to the President for Economic Affairs and Investments Secretary Frederick Go visited Japan from March …

Inflation in February eased to 2.1 percent from 2.9 percent in January, primarily due to the slower price increase of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported. In a recent press briefing, PSA Assistant Secretary Divina Gracia del Prado attributed the decline to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) declaration of a food security emergency, which helped lower …

DMCI Mining Corp. and Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) announced last week that they are exploring the development of a new nickel processing plant in the Philippines. This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two companies on Tuesday to conduct a feasibility study for the project. The planned facility aims to process low-grade nickel ore, which …

The World Bank (WB) is set to extend $2.75 billion in loans to the Philippines for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a 3.7 percent decrease from the $2.857 billion allocated for 2025.  Despite the reduction, the lending program highlights the WB’s sustained commitment to supporting the country’s development efforts. WB Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Zafer Mustafaoğlu confirmed that …

Bank lending in the Philippines surged by nearly 13 percent in January, marking its highest growth rate since December 2022, while domestic liquidity also continued to expand, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Preliminary BSP data released Thursday showed that loans extended by universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) grew by 12.8 percent in January, surpassing the …