Real GDP growth for 1Q-3Q97 was 6.0%

Slovakia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.0 percent in real terms for the first nine months of 1997, the Slovak Statistical Bureau (ŠÚSR) reported on December 9. "GDP growth in the first three quarters was influenced mainly by domestic demand... while gross fixed capital formation continued to be the fastest rising component of GDP despite a slowdown in the third quarter," ŠÚSR said. Gross fixed capital formation grew by 18.2 percent year-on-year in real terms and household consumption was up 6.7 percent while public sector consumption grew by 4.1 percent. Exports of goods and services increased by 8.2 percent in real terms compared to the same period of 1996, while imports were up 6.7 percent. The private sector accounted for 82.4 percent of GDP created between January and September, a chunk five percent bigger than last year.