Ecuador economy grew 8.0pc in 2011: central bank

QUITO: Ecuador's economy grew by 8.0 percent in 2011, up from 3.6 percent the previous year and higher than the government's forecast of 6.5 percent, the head of the central bank told Reuters on Friday.

The increased growth was chiefly due to more state spending on roads, hospitals and schools. High levels of government spending have been the centerpiece of President Rafael Correa's economic policy since he took office in 2007.