IMF sees steady growth for Phil

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the Philippines to sustain moderate economic growth over the next two years while gradually narrowing its current account deficit, reflecting resilience despite external headwinds and weaker global trade.

- By KEISHA TA-ASAN

In its October 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO), the IMF projected the country’s current account deficit to narrow to 3.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 and 3.5 percent in 2026 from four percent in 2024.

The improvement signals easing pressures on the balance of payments as imports normalize and remittance inflows remain steady.

The IMF said global protectionist trade measures “have had a limited impact on economic activity and prices,” adding that growth in many economies, including the Philippines, “held up in the first half.”