1Q GDP growth at 5.1 %

The GDP grew 5.1 percent in real terms in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period of 1996, recording the lowest quarterly growth since the end of 1994. In the last quarter of 1996, the GDP grew by 6.7 percent. The real GDP growth culminated in the third quarter of 1995, and has been declining since. According to the Slovak Statistical Office, the slowing down of growth is a common seasonal swing.