LIMA, July 24 (Reuters) - Peru's public sector fiscal surplus narrowed to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product in the first half of 2009, the central bank said on Friday, as tax revenue slips and the government increases spending to offset an economic slowdown.
The surplus shrank from 4.9 percent of GDP in the first half of 2008.
In June, Peru posted a fiscal deficit of 1.2 percent of GDP, compared with a surplus of 2.3 percent in the same month a year earlier.
Peru, a leading global metals exporter, has suffered from a drop in minerals prices. Its economy is expected to grow about 3 percent this year, down from 10 percent last year.
(Editing by Leslie Adler) Keywords: PERU ECONOMY/FISCAL (terry.wade@reuters.com; +51-1-221-2130; Reuters Messaging: terry.wade.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The surplus shrank from 4.9 percent of GDP in the first half of 2008.
In June, Peru posted a fiscal deficit of 1.2 percent of GDP, compared with a surplus of 2.3 percent in the same month a year earlier.
Peru, a leading global metals exporter, has suffered from a drop in minerals prices. Its economy is expected to grow about 3 percent this year, down from 10 percent last year.
(Editing by Leslie Adler) Keywords: PERU ECONOMY/FISCAL (terry.wade@reuters.com; +51-1-221-2130; Reuters Messaging: terry.wade.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.