Optimism among Filipino businessmen for the first quarter of 2025 softened as the confidence index fell to 40.3 percent, reflecting concerns over slower post-holiday demand and inflationary pressures.
This dip in confidence for the year ahead signals consumer caution amid rising concerns over inflation, interest rates, and unemployment. Households expect inflation to average 5.9% over the next year, well above the government’s target range of 2% to 4%.