Inflation bigger challenge than Covid in 2022, Philippines bank boss says

Inflation will be a bigger threat to economies next year than Covid-19, the head of the Philippines central bank has told the BBC.

Benjamin Diokno also said he believes his country's economy will return to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2022.

"We expect the economy to be back to where it was by the middle of next year, or even earlier," he said.

The Philippines was one of the south east Asian nations worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Diokno said that like many other countries as they emerge from the pandemic, price rises will be a challenge for the Philippines, even as he sees the economy recovering in the months ahead.