00:00An economist said the headline inflation for this month is likely to settle at 2.6%
00:06and will be within government's target range of 2-4%.
00:10According to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael Rickafort, this is
00:16primarily due to lower-priced rice prices, which make up 9% of consumer price index after
00:23tariffs on imported rice were reduced.
00:26He warned, though, that the seasonal rice in demand and spending during the holiday
00:31season could cause a slight increase in prices.
