Peru: Growth Quickens

Peru’s economy grew 6.4 percent year-on-year in April. Higher output of natural gas, chemicals, paper and cotton outpaced declines in copper and gold. Manufacturing rose 7 percent led by a 57 percent surge in chemicals. The Central Bank revised its growth forecast for 2005 to 5 percent from 4.5 percent. The economy grew 5.2 percent in the 12 months through April, compared with 4.9 percent through March.