REFILE-WRAPUP 1-Peru GDP growth speeds up, Lima jobless jumps

(Inserts dropped words 'was mining' in 12th paragraph)

By Walker Simon

LIMA, March 15 (Reuters) - Peru's economy grew a stronger-than-expected 9.2 percent annual rate in January, led by a jump in manufacturing, construction and commerce, offsetting a contraction in the key mining sector, the government said on Thursday.

However, the unemployment rate in Lima, Peru's capital, rose to a higher-than-forecast 9.5 percent in the December-to-February period from 9 percent between November and January and in the year-earlier December-to-February period.

The data, reported by the national statistics agency (INEI), surprised economists, topping their highest forecasts.

Primarily driving unemployment upward was a surge in people searching for work, encouraged by their prospects due to the strengthening economy, INEI Technical Director Jose Garcia told Reuters in a telephone interview.

The bulk of employment seekers were first-time job seekers, particularly students, he said. Housewives also were among those looking for jobs for the first time, noting joblessness was greater among women than men.

Last year, Peru's gross domestic product expanded 8 percent, its fastest rate in 11 years, rounding out five straight years of growth averaging above 5 percent -- the highest such multiyear rate since 1970, he said.

The January expansion of 9.2 percent, compared with a year earlier, was the fastest growth rate posted for that month in 11 years, the INEI said, adding that expansion was fueled by expanding domestic demand and exports.

January's growth was also faster than December's GDP growth of 8.9 percent, compared with a year earlier.

The January GDP growth topped forecasts of eight economists in a Reuters poll. Their predictions ranged from a low of 6.8 percent to a high of 8.2 percent with a median of 7.8 percent.

Sectors showing the strongest growth were the commercial sector, up 13.8 percent; manufacturing, up 11.5 percent and construction up 11 percent, all compared with a year earlier.

The INEI's Garcia explained that the commerce sector gauged the value added by services by wholesalers as well as retailers.

GOLD, COPPER, ZINC DRAGS MINING

The only sector to contract in January was mining, which declined 1.9 percent compared with a year earlier, led by a 22.5 percent fall in gold output, compared with a year earlier.

The decline was due to even a steeper fall in gold output at Yanacocha, South America's No. 1 gold mine majority owned by Denver-based Newmont (NEM.N). The INEI said Yanacocha accounts for nearly a third of the gold output in Peru, which is the world's No. 5 producer of the precious metal