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THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) outlined its priorities for 2025, with emphasis on strengthening protective measures in the digital economy."The DTI is committed to creating more jobs and opportunities by promoting innovation and competitiveness in our key industries, and ensuring fair prices and consumer protection in the digital marketplace," Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement.As Filipinos become adept in using online platforms for daily purchases and availing of various services, DTI said it is undertaking steps to shield consumers from unfair practices, price manipulation and other threats in the rising digital economy.Roque likewise recognized efforts made to advance several economic programs aimed at empowering Filipinos and boosting local industries."From helping small businesses access digital tools and financing, to promoting consumer protection and fair trade practices, to attracting international investments and supporting MSME development, we have worked tirelessly to empower the Filipino people," Roque said.Recognizing the value of foreign investments, Roque said DTI is aiming for a higher investment target in 2025, focusing on renewable energy, infrastructure, technology and digital services.DTI's attached agency, the Board of Investments, said it is targeting to register P1.75 trillion worth of investments this year, or 8 percent higher than its milestone achievement of P1.62 trillion in 2024, its highest in 57 years.Roque underscored the role of collaboration between government agencies and businesses to navigate the challenges of 2025. "We are confident this will be another year of growth, innovation and shared success," she said.

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05.01.25 04:15

by manilatimes.net

Fed officials say job not done on inflation

TWO Federal Reserve policymakers on Saturday said they felt the US central bank's job on taming inflation was not yet done, but also signaled they did not want to risk damaging the labor market as they try to finish that job.The remarks, from Governor Adriana Kugler and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly, highlight the delicate balancing act facing US central bankers this year as they look to slow their pace of rate-cutting. The Fed lowered short-term rates by a full percentage point last year, to a current range of 4.25-4.50 percent.Inflation by the Fed's preferred measure is well down from its mid-2022 peak of around 7 percent, registering 2.4 percent in November. That's still above the Fed's 2-percent target and in December policymakers projected slower progress toward that goal than they had earlier anticipated."We are fully aware that we are not there yet — no one is popping champagne anywhere," Kugler said at the annual American Economic Association conference in San Francisco. "And at the same time... we want the unemployment rate to stay where it is" and not increase rapidly.In November, unemployment was 4.2 percent, consistent in both her and colleague Daly's view with maximum employment, the Fed's second goal alongside its price stability goal."At this point, I would not want to see further slowing in the labor market — maybe gradually moving around in bumps and chunks on a given month, but certainly not additional slowing in the labor market," said Daly, who was speaking on the same panel.The policymakers were not asked, nor did they volunteer their views, about the potential impact of incoming president Donald Trump's economic policies, including tariffs and tax cuts, which some have speculated could fuel growth and reignite inflation.

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