Strong 2024 growth puts MAS decision in focus

Prudent stance: Stacked shipping containers at the port stand in Singapore. The MAS has cautioned on the outlook for global growth and potential upside risks to prices. — Bloomberg

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s economic growth beat estimates in the last three months of 2024 but slowed from the prior quarter, potentially providing scope for the central bank to slightly loosen monetary settings this year.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.3% in the three months through December from a year earlier, according to advance estimates released yesterday by the Trade and Industry Ministry.