SINGAPORE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Economists have raised their full-year growth forecast for Singapore to 2.4 percent, up from 1.7 percent previously, after stronger-than-expected economic performance in the second quarter, according to a Monetary Authority of Singapore survey released Wednesday.
The survey, conducted in mid-August with 20 responses from 25 economists and analysts, said the economy expanded 4.4 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, beating the median forecast of 3.0 percent in the previous survey.
For the third quarter, economists now expect growth to ease to 0.9 percent year-on-year.
Inflation projections remain subdued, with headline consumer prices forecast to rise 0.8 percent and core inflation 0.6 percent in the third quarter.
Geopolitical tensions, including the introduction of semiconductor and pharmaceutical tariffs, were cited as the most significant downside risk to Singapore's outlook. Respondents also pointed to external slowdowns and financial market volatility as potential risks. ■