MONETARY authorities could cut key interest rates twice more before the year ends following lower-than-expected September inflation, analysts said, but significant reductions are unlikely due to continued domestic and global challenges.

Inflation markedly slowed 1.9 percent last month from 3.3 percent in August, falling below the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) 2.0- to 4.0-percent goal. It was also lower than the central bank's 2.0- to 2.8-percent estimate for the month and the 2.6-percent median in a Manila Times poll of economists.