The Economic Planning Agency said Thursday it will likely slice its gross domestic product data for the October-December quarter of 1999 to around minus 1.6 percent from a preliminary figure of minus 1.4 percent.

The announcement followed a New York Times report that the EPA had not taken into account some unfavorable data when compiling the May figure.

The daily said the EPA appears to have given in to pressure from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and other political forces before the general election in late June.