IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The seasonally adjusted real GDP at market prices for the second quarter of 2005, compared with the first quarter of 2005, increased by an annualised rate of 4,8 percent. The corresponding increase for the first quarter of 2005 was 3,5 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2004.

The main contributors to the increase in economic activity for the second quarter of 2005 were the manufacturing industry (1,2 of a percentage point); wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants industry and finance, real estate and business services industry (0,7 of a percentage point each); transport, storage and communication industry (0,6 of a percentage point) and agriculture, forestry and fishing; general government services and personal services (0,3 of a percentage point each).

The seasonally adjusted real value added by the non-agricultural industries (excluding the impact of the volatile agriculture industry) increased by 4,7 percent during second quarter of 2005 following an increase of 3,5 percent in the first quarter of 2005.

The unadjusted real GDP at market prices increased by 4,5 percent during second quarter of 2005 compared with the second quarter of 2004, following an increase of 4,2 percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared with the first quarter of 2004. The unadjusted real GDP at market prices for the first six months of 2005 increased by 4,4 percent compared with the first six months of 2004.