quarantine cushioned the contraction of gross capital formation during the quarter. Government transfers related to payment of the second tranche of the universal grant resulted in significantly higher current spending increasing the accumulated fiscal deficit to 6.2% of GDP for last twelve months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to 4.7% of GDP for the twelve months ended June 30, 2020.
The Peruvian economy contracted 14.5% during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to GDP growth of 2.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. However, this contraction is lower than the 17.4% decrease recorded during the first half 2020, domestic demand decreased 12.8% compared to 15.0% in the period ended June 30, 2020. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, private consumption decreased 11.4% and gross domestic investment decreased 23.7% (compared to the 30.9% decrease recorded during the first quarter of 2020), in each case compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020 public consumption increased 0.5%.
Non-traditional exports decreased 14.1% during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to growth of 3.3% during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to a decrease in almost all non-traditional items, including fishing, textiles, wood and wood products, chemicals, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, jewelry, fabric metal products, offset in part by a 3.5% increase in exports of agriculture and livestock.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Central Bank’s net international reserves increased by 6.6% compared to an increase of 17.1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to a decrease of U.S.$9.6 billion in deposits of financial intermediaries and a decrease of U.S.$6.1 billion in deposits of the public sector, offset in part by a U.S.$10.1 billion increase foreign exchange operations particularly operations with public sector entities.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, central government revenue decreased by 24.2%, compared to a 1.7% increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to a decrease in current revenue such as income tax and goods and services tax.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, central government expenditure increased by 10.1%, compared to an increase of 4.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to an increase in total current expenditures, including wages and salaries, goods and services and current transfers.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, in nominal terms, public sector external debt outstanding increased by 24.3%, compared to an increase of 0.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Public sector external debt, as a percentage of GDP, increased from 9.8% as of September 30, 2019 to 13.6% as of September 30, 2020.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the rate of inflation was 1.38%, compared to 1.46% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, public investment decreased by 33.7% compared to an increase of 1.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily as a result of an interruption of the projects during the quarantine period.
Gross Domestic Product and the Structure of the Economy
Since mid-March 2020, the government has adopted various measures aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and preserving the health of the population. As a result of these measures that have included shutdowns of various sectors of the economy and weakening of global demand, in the six months ended June 30, 2020, gross domestic product (“GDP”) contracted by 17.4% compared to the same period in 2019. During this period, the 15.0% contraction in domestic demand was associated with the negative impact of the shutdown of non-essential activities and the uncertainty these measures generated on household spending and private investment. Meanwhile, exports decreased due to lower local production and external demand.
In particular, contraction in domestic production was due primarily to the effects of the declaration of the National State of Emergency through Supreme Decree No. 044-2020-PCM, which established mandatory social isolation and quarantine from March 16, 2020 due to the serious circumstances that affect the population resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This decree implemented a series of restrictions designed to protect the population against the spread of the coronavirus by stemming the rate of infections. In May 2020 through Supreme Decree No. 080-2020-PCM -PCM and then in June, through Supreme Decree No. 101-2020-PCM and Supreme Decree No. 110-2020-PCM and Supreme Decree No. 117-2020-PCM, the gradual and progressive resumption of economic activity was approved within the framework of this State of Emergency.
E-8