Chile's economy grows 7.2 pct in first quarter

SANTIAGO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chile's economy grew 7.2 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2021, according to a report released Wednesday by the Central Bank of Chile.

However, growth was below expectations, with economic activity in the first quarter growing 0.6 percent less than initially forecast in the Monthly Index of Economic Activity, the report said.