BANGKOK, May 17 (Reuters) - Thailand’s economy shrank in the first quarter from a year earlier as coronavirus outbreaks hurt consumption and tourism, but the fall was less than expected. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy contracted 2.6% in the March quarter from a year earlier, data from the National Economic and Social Development Council showed on Monday, versus a forecast 3.3% drop in a Reuters poll. On a quarterly basis, gross domestic product (GDP) rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in the first quarter, beating the 0.8% drop forecast by economists. The agency cut its GDP outlook for the full year to 1.5%-2.5% from a previous forecast of 2.5%-3.5% growth. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Satawasin Staporncharnchai Editing by Jacqueline Wong) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.