Pinoys keep finances steady in Q4 – survey

December 12, 2025 | 12:00am

Amid high prices

MANILA, Philippines — Most Filipino households maintained stable finances in the fourth quarter of 2025 despite persistent price pressures and tighter credit conditions, according to global information and insights company TransUnion.

In its latest TransUnion Consumer Pulse Study, respondents painted a picture of “quiet endurance,” with families holding their ground while remaining optimistic about the year ahead.

The survey showed that 42 percent of consumers saw their income rise in the past three months, slightly below last year’s 44 percent. Another 41 percent reported no change, while 18 percent cited a decline.

TransUnion said this pattern “mirrors the wider economy – still expanding but at a calmer pace after two years of rebound.”

Looking ahead, three in four consumers expected incomes to increase over the next 12 months, although that optimism softened compared with a year ago.

Despite this, sentiment remained upbeat: eight in 10 respondents said they were positive about their financial prospects while only eight percent were pessimistic.

Inflation continued to dominate household concerns, with 81 percent citing everyday prices among their top three financial worries. Jobs followed at 57 percent and interest rates at 45 percent.

TransUnion noted that the ranking has not shifted since 2024, underscoring how “consumers felt price pressure even as official inflation figures showed some easing.”

Spending patterns reflected this caution with 47 percent cutting back on discretionary expenses such as dining or travel, almost unchanged from last year’s 48 percent. One in four reduced digital services and another quarter cancelled subscriptions. Nearly half expected their bills and loan payments to rise in the coming months.

While credit access remained broadly open, Filipinos grew more selective about borrowing. About 58 percent said credit access was very important, down from 64 percent last year.

In contrast, more than six in 10 gen Z and millennial consumers still viewed credit as key to achieving their financial goals.

About 42 percent believed they had sufficient access to credit while 47 percent planned to apply for new or refinanced credit within the year, lower than 2024 levels. Personal loans (49 percent) and buy now pay later services (35 percent) remained the top choices among those intending to borrow.

For those who abandoned their borrowing plans, the leading reasons were high costs, income or employment status concerns and difficulty verifying identity. Many also said the process “takes too long to get a decision.”