world-economy

Philippine Inflation Cools for Third Straight Month, Easing Rate Pressure

Inflation in the Philippines decelerated for a third consecutive month in July, reducing immediate pressure on the central bank to pursue additional rate increases. Policymakers now have flexibility to evaluate incoming economic data and assess the effectiveness of recent tightening measures before deciding on future monetary policy moves. Japan's sustained wage growth supports the case for additional Bank of Japan interest rate hikes. The U.S. Federal Reserve maintains focus on inflation control, with officials signaling that tighter policy remains necessary to achieve price stability goals. Madagascar has raised rates amid elevated inflation forecasts driven by geopolitical tensions affecting commodity prices and supply chain costs.