S Korea's Q1 fiscal deficit widens

South Korea's fiscal deficit in the first quarter of this year widened from a year earlier on greater government spending to bolster the economy, the finance ministry said Tuesday. The consolidated fiscal account, which reflects the central government's total income and expenditure, posted a 11.3 trillion won (US$9.6 billion) deficit during the January-March period, up 6.9 trillion won from a year earlier, the ministry said in a report, relayed by S.Korean Yonhap news agency today. The increase stemmed mostly from a sharp rise in consolidated fiscal expenditure as the government front-loaded this year's budget to bolster sluggish growth. The government's total income came to 85.6 trillion won in the three-month period, up 6.9 trillion won from a year earlier, with tax revenue growing 3.8 trillion won over the same period, the ministry said. The nation's expenditure, however, shot up 13.8 trillion won to 96.9 trillion won. The latest report showed the consolidated fiscal account, excluding social security funds, reached a deficit of 21.7 trillion won during the three month period, up 8.4 trillion won from a year earlier, the ministry said. South Korea's economy expanded 2.8% on-quarter during in the first quarter, with Seoul expecting growth to hit 3.7% this year from 3.6% in 2011.