MANILA, March 12 (Reuters) - The Philippines recorded a
trade deficit of $2.42 billion in January PHTBAL=ECI , the
widest in 12 months, as exports posted the biggest decline in
five months, government data showed on Friday.
Exports declined 5.2% to $5.5 billion PHEXP=ECI from a
year earlier, while imports contracted 14.9% to $7.9 billion
PHIMP=ECI , the Philippine Statistics Authority said.