Services expand at fastest pace in 3 years, but manufacturing still powers Singapore economy

ALL EYES are now on the services sector, which registered its fastest growth pace in three years, but manufacturing continued to be the key driver of Singapore's economy in the first quarter.

With manufacturing likely to moderate for the rest of the year and the construction sector still in the doldrums, economists are divided on whether the momentum in the services sector is enough to propel Singapore's growth in the coming quarters.

For now, manufacturing - which makes up a fifth of the Singapore …