Fertility rate in PHL steadily declines

The Philippines’ total fertility rate (TFR) reached a record low of 1.7 children per woman in the 2023-2025 period, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

Preliminary data from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) by the PSA showed that the TFR in the three years leading up to the 2025 survey dipped from the 1.9 TFR recorded in 2022.

This was the lowest recorded TFR since tracking began in 1993, and a continuation of a downward trend in the rates throughout all releases of the NDHS.

The PSA defines the TFR as the number of a woman’s children by the end of her childbearing years.

By region, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao logged the highest fertility rate at 2.4, followed by the Zamboanga Peninsula at 2.3, and Caraga at 2.2.

Meanwhile, the lowest TFR was recorded in Calabarzon at 1.3, followed by Metro Manila and the Negros Island Region at 1.4.

By educational attainment, women who have an elementary-level educational attainment had the highest TFR with 3.1 childbirths inching up from 3 in 2022.

This was followed by those with junior high school-level attainments and no attainments with 2.3 (from 2.5 in 2022), and then by those with senior high school-level attainments with 1.8 (from 2.7 in 2022).

Categorized by wealth quintile, those at the lowest wealth quintile had the highest TFR with 2.8 births from 3.1 in 2022.

This was followed by the second wealth quintile with 2.1 (from 2.2 in 2022), and the middle wealth quintile with 1.7 (from 1.9).

Age-specific fertility rates, which pertain to births per 1000 women over the three-year period covered, were highest in the 25 to 29-year-old age group with 94 births.

This was followed by those aged 30-34 years old with 84 births, and the 20 to 24-year-olds with 67 births.

The percentage of women who said they no longer want children rose to 49.4% from 48.8% in 2022.

By region, the largest share of women with this sentiment was highest in Bicol with 57%, followed by Mimaropa with 56.9%, and the Negros Island Region at 56.7%.

The NDHS is conducted every three years and provides data to guide policies and programs to improve the health and development of Filipinos.

It is also aligned with indicators on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, covering fertility, family planning, maternal and child health, and domestic violence.

Source: Business World

Inflation accelerates to 4.1% in March

Higher fuel prices, along with increased transport costs, pushed the country’s inflation rate to 4.1 percent last month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

It was markedly higher than the 2.4 percent and 1.8 percent a month and year earlier.

This is also higher than the 3.7 percent median forecast of The Manila Times' poll of economists, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' estimate of 3.1 to 3.9 percent.

This marks the first time inflation breached the 2.0- to 4.0-percent target since it reached 4.4 percent in July 2024.

Core inflation, which excludes select food and energy items, rose to 3.2 percent in March 2026, from 2.9 percent in the previous month. It was also higher than the 2.2 percent core inflation in March 2025.

To date, headline and core inflation is still within the target at 2.8 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively.

Source: Manila Times

Building materials retail price growth in Metro Manila steady in Feb.

The retail price growth of construction materials in the National Capital Region was steady in February with an acceleration in electrical materials prices offset by a slowdown in painting materials and related compounds, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

Citing preliminary data, it said year-on-year growth in the construction materials retail price index (CMRPI) for Metro Manila remained at 1.2% in February, in line with the average in the year to date.

The February reading exceeded the 1.1% year-earlier level.

Compared to January readings, growth accelerated in the subindices of electrical materials (2.1% in February from 1.9% a month earlier), masonry materials (1.1% from 1%), plumbing materials (0.8% from 0.7%), and miscellaneous construction materials (1.1% from 0.9%).

Meanwhile, the PSA said slower price growth compared to a year earlier was noted in the indices for painting materials and related compounds (1.8% from 2.1%) and tinsmithry materials (1.9% from 2%).

The CMRPI is based on 2012 constant prices.

Source: Business World