MANILA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Wednesday that East Asia's gross national product (GNP) growth for 2018 remains at 6.0 percent, as forecast in April.

In its updated Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2018, the Manila-based bank said East Asia will expand by 6.0 percent in 2018, as forecast in April, and by only 5.7 percent in 2019, slightly lower than the ADO 2018 projection in April.

ADO said that growth in China will slow from 6.9 percent in 2017 to 6.6 percent in 2018, unchanged from the previous forecast, and to 6.3 percent in 2019, revised down from 6.4 percent because of slower demand growth and a worsening trade conflict with the United States.

ADO said surging consumption and exports raise growth prospects in Mongolia substantially beyond earlier forecasts, but growth in South Korea will be lower in both years as exports suffer under higher tariffs imposed by two of its largest trade partners.

Meanwhile, ADO predicted consumer inflation in East Asia will be at 2.1 percent in both 2018 and 2019 which is slightly lower than forecast in April.

In China, ADO said slow recovery for food prices and only mild pass-through from currency depreciation will hold inflation at 2.2 percent in both years, less than previously forecast.

ADO, originally published in April and updated in September, is ADB's flagship annual economic publication.

The publication provided a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic issues in developing Asia, including growth projections for major economies. Enditem

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