The Philippines economy unexpectedly accelerated its growth rate in the second quarter, which reached its levels before the financial crisis in mid-2007. Consumer spending and the state contribute to the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) of the country by 7.9 percent annually. During the first three months of this year Philippine economy also reported high annual growth of 7.8 per cent. The increase was more than expected growth of 6.3 per cent and is the largest of the second quarter of 2007. Philippine economy proved more resilient to slowing world economy in comparison with neighboring Malaysia and Thailand, where growth rates fell in the second quarter. Analysts say the country’s low inflation will allow the Philippine central bank to maintain its liberal monetary policy during this month. The base rate in the Philippines fell to a record low level since 4 percent last year, expectations are that it will not change until the end of this year. This, combined with rapid rates of economic growth is expected to give impetus to the local stock exchange and the Philippine peso. Liberal fiscal and monetary policy is also aimed at raising incomes of the population, as estimated by the World Bank one in four people in the country lives on less than 1.25 dollars a day.
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The Russian economy out of recession and began to recover, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin during an extensive report today on the work of the government last year exported to the State Duma, Russian media reported. According to Putin recession ended the Russian economy and now also the conditions for progress are very good. According to the Russian prime minister that does not mean that the country has gone out of crisis but the recession has ended. Putin reasons that make those findings justify its latest data on the development of Russian economy. He stated that preliminary results for first quarter suggest optimism – the growth of industrial production reached 5.8 percent, while real incomes have risen by 7.4 percent. Russian Prime Minister added that it is very likely the official forecast of growth of gross domestic product for 2010 from 3.1% to be exceeded and it reaches about 4%. Putin noted that the key sectors of the real economy and financial system out of the global test and enter into good shape. Putin stressed in his speech that it is necessary to keep the trend from last year to decrease inflation, when it slowed to 8.8 percent (the lowest level of 18 years) for this year is on average 5-6 %.
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The Russian economy grew in the first quarter of this year for the first time since 2008 thanks to the recovery of this industry and services, and improving labor market. On an annual basis for the first quarter GDP grew by 0.5 per cent since the fourth quarter of last year declined by 2.6 percent, data show the indicator for the economy of VTB Capital – the investment bank unit VTB. Only in March the Russian economy grew by 1.1 per cent growth from 0.5 percent in February, the index shows. Increased demand for raw materials and larger consumer spending helped the country to escape from its worst recession since the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to official statistics in the fourth quarter the economy shrank by 3.8 percent annually after a decline of 7.7 per cent in the third. For the year reported a decrease in GDP by 7.9 per cent. According to data from the state rail operator transporting goods by rail, which is considered indicative of changes in industrial production jumped by 12.7 per cent yoy in the first quarter. In February retail sales increased by 1.3 per cent annually, while unemployment fell to 8.6 per cent from 9.2 per cent. Capital investment and unemployment are “weak links” in the restoration, said last month, Deputy Economy Minister Andrei eyelid. VTB Capital indicator calculated on the basis of surveys of business conditions in manufacturing and services sectors.
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The Gross domestic product (GDP) of Italy had fallen to 5% in 2009, while the budget deficit reached 5.3 percent of GDP, figures released today data from the Italian statistical office. In 2008, the country’s budget deficit was 2.7 percent of GDP, while the central bank forecast last month for the economy were to shrink by 4.8 percent. Also announced in February forecasts of the Italian Statistical Institute are to increase GDP by 1% for 2010, a deficit for the year amounted to 5.1 percent of Gross domestic product (GDP). Earlier today it became clear that the unemployment rate in Italy has risen in January to 8.6 percent from 8.5 percent in December. Announced data coincided with the average expectations of economists.
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The economy of Ukraine has contracted by 7% in the fourth quarter of 2009 over the same period the previous year. This was the smallest decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in the country last year, police Bloomberg. The main reason for this probably lies in increasing exports in the last months of 2009, which gives impetus to the industrial production of Eastern European countries. Preliminary statistics do not give details of individual components of GDP. For comparison, the GDP of Ukraine decreased more strongly by 15.9 percent in the third quarter, 17.8 percent in the second and 20.3 percent in the first three months of 2009. Ukraine plunged into recession in the fourth quarter of 2008, after the global economic crisis undermines demand for steel, which occupies a central place in its exports. Meanwhile, in 2009 require the Government to grant aid of 20 of the largest banks in the country. Ukrainian bracelet is impaired by 42% against the U.S. dollar since the beginning of September 2008 as the political crisis in the country has caused the IMF to stop to pay the loan from EUR 16,8 billion allocated last year to enable Ukraine to finance its budget. According to economists RBS Ukrainian economy remains in poor condition despite the appreciation of the metals and the depreciation of local currency last year. During today’s foreign exchange session one Ukrainian bracelet be exchanged for 8.0215 U.S. dollars.
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Latvia’s economy has contracted by 17.7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, which is the smallest decline for the year but more than economists’ expectations, sent Bloomberg, citing preliminary statistics. For the third quarter of the country’s economy shrank by 19 percent. Average expectations of economists polled by Bloomberg, were beginning to fall in the fourth quarter from 15.9 per cent. From the third quarter of the country’s economy increased by 2,4 percent. Revised GDP data will be published on 11 March. Latvian economy is showing signs of stabilization, the decline in industry is slowing. Increased exports to Western Europe is likely to help the country return to growth as domestic demand is under pressure because of measures introduced under the conditions for obtaining a rescue loan. “It is possible that the revised GDP data are better,” said Leah Strasuna, an economist at the Latvian unit of Swedbank AB.
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The U.S. economy has a serious request to exit the severe economic crisis, it became clear from data on gross domestic product in the last quarter of 2009. It grew by 5,7 per cent in seasonally adjusted and aligned on an annual basis. This is the sharp rise in U.S. GDP by the end of 2003 onwards. The increase comes after the U.S. economic growth of 2,2 per cent in the third quarter of 2009. Analysts’ estimates were for growth of 5.4 per cent. Despite the high score, however it is too early for definitive evaluations Since several revisions to the data. Although over the last two quarters of 2009 to the U.S. economy grew for the whole last year reported a decline of 2,4 per cent. This is the worst performance of the U.S. economy from 1942 onwards, when it was registered a decline of 10.9 percent. Among the positive data make a bad impression with business investment, which suffered its biggest decline from 1942 to date, writes Market Watch. About two-thirds achieved in the last quarter of the year growth was due to selling of stocks in the economy. If they are removed from the calculations, the estimated growth of 2,2 per cent annually, which is a signal of continued weakness in the U.S.
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Lithuania will not adhere to the “painful” scheme for adopting the euro, which will shrink consumption and greatly harm the economy, said Prime Minister of the country Cubilus Andrews. The country probably will fail to meet EU requirements for the deficit within 3 percent of GDP by 2011, so the adoption of the euro can not happen before 2013, said in an interview yesterday, Finance Minister of Lithuania Ingrid Simon. “These are very ambitious and very painful measures, and, of course, there are any limits on what measures can enter,” said Cubilus. The aim is not to kill the entire economy and stability in society by reducing costs, salaries and pensions. Lithuania’s economy contracted by 14,3 per cent in the third quarter after the government took budget cuts, equivalent to 8 percent of GDP this year. Even after these stringent measures, the evaluation of the European Commission Lithuania will have a deficit of 9,7 per cent in 2011 to 9.8 per cent for this. Lithuania, whose currency – liras is tied to the euro should be introduced European single currency “as soon as possible, but the opportunities in turn have practical limits and practical measures should be introduced,” said Cubilus. The government has proposed the 2010 budget cuts of 5 percent of GDP, aimed at social welfare. Lithuania lags behind neighboring Estonia, which plans to join the eurozone from January 1, 2011, after years of using the government budget surplus for the establishment of reserves. This allowed the public finances remain intact even after the crisis hit the country.
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