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Philippine first-quarter economic growth at 2-year high

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MANILA: The Philippine economy grew at its strongest quarterly pace in two years in January–March, powered by government spending, domestic demand and an export rebound, though analysts cautioned it may lose momentum quickly given headwinds from Europe.

Government consumptio­n surged 24% in the first quarter from a year earlier, the highest in at least two years, and exports reversed two quarters of declines to post their fastest growth since the fourth quarter of 2010.

Recent data from other Asian economies such as China, South Korea and Taiwan, however, has shown weakness in export demand in the second quarter as Europe’s debt crisis deepens and China’s growth slows, although some improvemen­t has been seen in shipments to the United States.

“The government’s fiscal spending since the start of the year has gone up. That has supported growth,” said Eugene Leow, an economist at DBS Bank in Singapore. “We do not think the growth momentum can be sustained because of the troubles in Europe. April data from the region have also softened.”

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose a seasonally adjusted 2.5% in January–March from the previous quarter, the economic planning agency said, slightly below the 2.9% forecast by economists.

From a year earlier, the economy climbed 6.4% in the first three months, the fastest in six quarters and outpacing growth in Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. The figure was well up on a 4.6% growth forecast in a Reuters poll.

Central bank governor Amando Tetangco said the higher-than-forecast outcome made the government’s 2012 target of 56% economic growth “more manageable”, adding that there was less need for monetary authoritie­s to support growth.

“We are, of course, hopeful that this trend would continue, as the national government accelerate­s spending and private consumptio­n remains robust,” Tetangco said in a statement. “Neverthele­ss we are mindful of the risks in the external environmen­t, particular­ly the weakness in the eurozone, tentative growth in the United States and slowdown in China.” — Reuters

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