Philippine economic growth at slowest in 3 years

Philippine economic growth in the second quarter slowed to its lowest rate in three years as higher inflation hurt consumption and mining output contracted, the government said Thursday

Gross domestic product in April-June quarter grew 4.6 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Growth in the first quarter was revised to 4.7 percent from an earlier 5.2 percent. GDP growth in the second quarter of 2007 was a much stronger 8.3 percent.

The "uninspiring growth" in the country's economy was driven the the relatively strong performance of manufacturing, agriculture and construction, the National Statistics and Coordinating Board said in a …