Philippine central bank keeps inflation forecasts for 2017, 2018

The central bank expects inflation to average 3.2 percent this year and 3.2 percent next year, unchanged from its previous forecast. The target for 2019 is also 3.2 percent.

The central bank, which has a 2-4 percent inflation target for this year and next, also left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.0 percent, as expected.

(Reporting by Karen Lema and Enrico dela Cruz; Writing by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Kim Coghill)