THE producer price index (PPI) for manufacturing in April slowed but remained positive, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday.
The index — which measures the average change in prices received by producers for their goods — saw growth marginally decline to 2.4 percent from 2.6 percent in March, but was higher than the 0.2 percent in April 2025.
A downturn in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products industry division — which dropped 5.3 percent from 8.2 percent in March — contributed to the PPI decrease. This division, which represented the fourth-highest weight in measuring the index, accounted for 62.7 percent of the slower annual growth rate.
Likewise cited were the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products (4.3 percent from 4.9 percent), and basic metals (3.8 percent from 4.9 percent).
Of the remaining 19 manufacturing sectors, 16 expanded while three contracted, the PSA said.
Month on month, PPI growth contracted by 0.1 percent from 1.2 percent in March and 0.1 percent in April 2025.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the drop in PPI was driven by faster year-on-year, second-round inflation effects from higher fuel and petroleum prices from the Middle East conflict.
Other factors were the weaker peso, which raised import costs and overall inflation, as well as higher global rice prices.
