2018 BoP shortfall lower than forecast

The country’s balance of payments (BoP) surplus widened in December, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday, but the full-year tally remained in deficit and was more than double the 2017 shortfall.

December’s $2.442-billion surplus was significantly higher than the $847-million and $917-million surpluses recorded in November and a year earlier. It was also the largest since July 2012 when the payments position stood at a surplus of $3.182 billion.