By Maria Almenoar & Ang Yiying

THE gloomy economy, impending retrenchments and belt-tightening were consigned to the back of party-goers' minds as the new year was ushered in with friends and family yesterday.

While some people rang in the new year at home, countdown parties rocked at The Float@Marina Bay, The Jewel Box on Mount Faber and on Siloso Beach in Sentosa. The spirit was no less exuberant at the nightspots in Clarke Quay, Dempsey Road and at Zouk.

About 250,000 party-goers gathered in the Marina Bay area to catch the fireworks. Crowds lined the Esplanade bridge and the edge of the Singapore River near the Merlion and Esplanade.

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