Philippines posts $2.57 billion budget deficit in August

MANILA, Sept 24 (Reuters) — The Philippine government reported a budget deficit of 161.3 billion pesos ($2.57 billion) in August, data from the Treasury Bureau showed on Thursday. The August deficit brought the country's year-to-date budget deficit to 1.05 trillion pesos, 21.3% wider than the 869.2 billion pesos shortfall over the same period last year. ($1 = 62.7180 Philippine pesos) (Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by David Stanway) ((mailto:karen.lema@thomsonreuters.com; +632 841-8938;)