SMC invests P75B in its food lines
San Miguel Corp. will pour in as much as P75 billion into its traditional food business lines—which had taken the backseat in the conglomerate’s rapid expansion during the last decade—due mainly to...
View ArticleTop consumer trends of 2017 revealed
As consumer attitudes all over the world continue to evolve, become more sophisticated, and, also, complicated, an international market research firm has identified 10 key consumer trends that brands...
View ArticleNew cement trade rules raise concerns on fraud
A consumer advocate warned against lax regulations that would give way to “more risks for cheating” at the expense of consumer safety.
View ArticleConsumer prices seen to stabilize by 2019
The central bank yesterday said the pace of increases in the prices of goods and services in the country would likely remain high for the rest of the year before normalizing in 2019 once the so-called...
View ArticleBill deposit is consumers’ obligation – Meralco
The bill deposit charge of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is an obligation of consumers as mandated under the rules, as the proceeds of which goes not just to the power firm but also to other...
View ArticleBSP survey: Filipino consumers remain optimistic despite high inflation
The optimism of Filipino consumers remained generally steady for the third quarter and the following year, as expectations of an improvement in the economy offset current worries about soaring prices,...
View ArticleMore monetary easing looms as BSP sees benign May inflation
Prices of consumer goods and services are expected to have risen between 2.8-3.6 percent in May — broadly unchanged from the previous month's moderate pace — due to the combined effects of a transport...
View ArticleBusiness, consumer confidence down
Filipinos are less optimistic about their economic prospects in the third quarter of the year as the rainy season and stiffer competition are expected to disrupt the activities of businesses, while...
View ArticleRosier picture from economic team: Lower inflation, stronger peso in 2019
The Duterte economic team continues to paint a rosy picture of the future, seeing lower inflation this year hovering just between 2.7 to 3.5 percent.
View ArticleLower rice, LPG prices kept inflation at bay in July, says BSP
Prices of consumer goods and services are likely to have risen 2.0-2.8% in July due to combined effects of lower rice and cooking gas costs.
View ArticleCayetano wants alcopops out of store shelves, repackaged
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Pia Cayetano on Friday called for a pull out of alcopops, a flavored alcoholic beverage, from store shelves and urged manufacturers to change its packaging. During...
View ArticleHow to give each and every consumer a good deal
Classify consumers by types, not demographics, to get a clearer picture of their changing needs, habits and preferences, which will then allow you to create better marketing strategies. This is the...
View ArticleAugust inflation rate seen falling further to 1%
The central bank expects the inflation rate to dip even further in August providing policy makers with fresh impetus to reduce borrowing costs and help pump prime the country’s moderating economic...
View ArticlePH inflation bottomed in October to 0.8 percent says BSP
The country’s inflation rate, on the decline for nearly the entire 2019, will most likely settle at 0.8 percent in October but jump slightly as a result of a normal occurrence during the...
View Article2020 to be a good year for consumer stocks
Every January, analysts try to predict which sectors will perform well for the year. After suffering from a weak 2019, we think there’s a good chance that consumer stocks will be among the best...
View ArticleUS banking giant Citigroup closing consumer, retail operations in PH
MANILA, Philippines—American banking giant Citigroup is refocusing its global operations by unwinding its consumer and retail banking businesses in several emerging markets, including the Philippines....
View ArticleUK think tank: Savings buoy PH consumer spending
The recent Delta outbreak in the Philippines and its ensuing lockdowns only slightly dampened consumption yet slashed household savings, UK-based think tank Pantheon Macroeconomics said Monday. Citing...
View ArticleFor Americans, convenience of buy-now-pay-later services come with risks
NEW YORK — Krista Michels can’t get enough of the online services that allow American shoppers to pay for everything from Christmas presents to monthly bills without fees, known as “buy now, pay...
View ArticlePH trade deficit swelled to record $4.7 billion in November 2021
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ trade deficit swelled to $4.71 billion — the biggest monthly gap on record — in November 2021 mainly as imports soared by over a third, bolstered by renewed...
View ArticleGov’t intensifies crackdown vs multilevel marketing scammers
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Monday it would step up efforts to combat multilevel marketing (MLM) scams, including pyramid schemes, vowing to build up further its consumer...
View ArticleHigh consumer prices seen to gnaw on Q3 growth
Amid lingering high inflation, Barcelona-based think tank FocusEconomics expects the Philippines’ third quarter growth to hit the slowest pace since the end of the pandemic-induced recession. “Our...
View ArticleCorporate groups sue U.S. consumer watchdog alleging legal overreach
NEW YORK -Trade groups representing the U.S. financial industry sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Wednesday for what they said was the agency’s overstepping of its authority in...
View ArticleEuro zone economic sentiment falls sharply as inflation expectations rise
BRUSSELS -Euro zone economic sentiment fell sharply and by more than expected in September, data showed on Thursday, as confidence dropped among companies and consumers, who are also downbeat about...
View ArticleBank loan growth accelerated in August
The increase of loans extended by the country’s large banks picked up pace slightly to 12.2 percent year-on-year in August from 12 percent in July amid double digit-growth in lending to both businesses...
View ArticleJapan Aug household spending rises annually on reopening
TOKYO – Japanese households increased spending in August compared with a year earlier as the economy continued to recover from COVID-19 restrictions, but rising prices are clouding the outlook for...
View ArticleChina’s Oct producer prices fall for first time since Dec 2020, consumer...
BEIJING – China’s factory gate prices for October dropped for the first time since December 2020, underlining faltering domestic demand and disruptions to production amid strict COVID-19 measures and a...
View ArticleAsialink eyes bigger share of consumer financing mart
In June 1997, a group of friends led by bank executive Robert Jordan Jr., entrepreneur Ruben Lugtu II and finance executive Wilfredo Anastacio pooled P3 million in capital and ventured into consumer...
View ArticleAs holiday online sales surged, so did fraud attempts
More potential fraud attempts involving e-commerce transactions were detected during the holidays in the Philippines when online retail activities hit their high, according to TransUnion. In a...
View ArticleSeries of nationwide ‘LPG summits’ set
The Department of Energy (DOE) will be conducting a series of summits nationwide to ensure consumer protection and safety in the use and sale of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products. As demand for...
View ArticleCredit cards essential for ‘adulting’
A credit card, just like any other form of debt, has often been vilified as a money sucker. But used wisely and responsibly, it can prove highly beneficial, especially for fresh college graduates who...
View ArticleIndonesia Q1 GDP beats forecasts on consumer, govt spending
JAKARTA -Indonesia’s economic growth held steady in the first quarter, as improving consumption and government spending offset a slowdown in exports and investment in Southeast Asia’s largest economy....
View ArticleConsumer group asks BIR to reconsider plan to tax online sellers
MANILA, Philippines – A consumer group is urging the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to reconsider its plan to impose a 1% creditable withholding tax on one-half of gross remittances of online...
View ArticleBanks, consumer plays top experts’ investment picks
MANILA -Despite lingering concerns on the global economy, financial experts interviewed by the Inquirer believe investors could still capitalize on select opportunities in the local stock market....
View ArticleSouth Korean household borrowing climbs in May, biggest rise in 20 months
SEOUL – Borrowing by South Korean households grew in May, marking the biggest increase in 20 months, as demand for mortgages climbs due to a loosening of regulations. Total household borrowing from...
View ArticleChina to boost credit support to consumer sector – regulator
BEIJING – China will guide banks to boost credit in the consumer service industry, its financial regulator said on Thursday, as authorities seek to boost a flagging post-pandemic economic recovery....
View ArticleTime to sift through the rubble
MANILA — The first semester of 2023 was an exercise in patience for many stock market investors. Sagging volumes and persistent concerns about elevated inflation kept the Philippine Stock Exchange...
View ArticleSouth Korea household borrowing grows further, countermeasures eyed
SEOUL – South Korea’s household borrowing grew in July for a fourth straight month and by the biggest amount in almost two years, central bank data showed on Wednesday, amid mounting worries by...
View ArticleAustralian consumer watchdog calls for record fine vs Qantas over canceled...
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s consumer watchdog on Friday called for Qantas Airways to be punished with a record fine for allegedly selling tickets on thousands of flights that had already been...
View ArticleConsumer complaints rose 4% from Jan to Aug, DTI says
MANILA -The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that the number of consumer complaints lodged at their office during the first eight months of the year increased by 4 percent, many of which...
View ArticleBeware: Dark side of bargains
Bargains aren’t always the win-win deals they appear to be. Unscrupulous sellers can damage consumer trust, leading to buyer dissatisfaction and regret. They not only tarnish the seller’s reputation...
View Article
