* May inflation quickens for first time since September
* C.bank sees around 2% inflation in Q3
* Analysts expect further cuts in policy rate and RRR
(Adds c.bank governor, analyst comments)
By Karen Lema
MANILA, June 5 (Reuters) - Philippine annual inflation
quickened in May for the first time in eight months, but
analysts say a slowing economy and lack of price pressures this
year will likely mean more policy easing.
The consumer price index in May rose 3.2% from a year
earlier due to a rise in food and utility prices, the statistics
agency said on Wednesday. Inflation picked up from April's 3.0%
pace and was above the 2.9% forecast in a Reuters poll.
It was the first time since September 2018 that inflation
has accelerated but the outcome was within the central bank's
2.8%-3.6% projection for the month.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said
the faster-than-expected inflation in May is only one data point
and "does not constitute a trend".
The central bank expects inflation to be "in the
neighbourhood" of 2% in the third quarter, with the annual rate
to be "in the vicinity" of 3.0% for this year and next, Diokno
said in a mobile phone message.
May inflation brought the average rate in the first five
months of the year to 3.6%, within the central bank's 2%-4%
target for the year.
Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and fuel
items, was 3.5%, picking up from April's 3.4%. Inflation on a
month-on-month basis was 0.2%.
Financial markets were closed on Wednesday for the
Eid-Al-Fitr holiday.
INFLATION SEEN SLOWING
HSBC economist Noelan Arbis said inflation would likely cool
in the second half, giving the central bank scope to further cut
its benchmark rate PHCBIR=ECI and banks' required reserves to
support slowing growth.
Major central banks around the world have started to cut
rates while the U.S. Federal Reserve has also hinted at the
possibility of an interest rate cut in the face of rising risks
to trade and global growth.
The Philippine central bank, which would next meet on June
20 to review monetary policy, started to unwind last year's
tightening with a 25 basis point cut in its main rate last month
to boost economic growth. This move was followed by a three-step reduction in banks'
required reserves that would bring the ratio to 16% from 18% by
July. To rein in red-hot inflation last year, the central bank had
raised its key policy rate by a total 175 basis points to 4.75%.
(Editing by Rashmi Aich and Jacqueline Wong)