IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increases for the 33rd consecutive quarter

The seasonally adjusted real GDP at market prices for the fourth quarter of 2006 increased by an annualised rate of 5,6 percent compared with the third quarter of 2006. The corresponding real annualised economic growth rates for the first three quarters of 2006 were 5,0 percent, 5,5 percent and 4,5 percent (revised from an increase of 4,7 percent) respectively.

The main contributors to the increase in economic activity for the fourth quarter of 2006 were the manufacturing industry (1,4 of a percentage point); the finance, real estate and business services industry (1,0 of a percentage point); the wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants industry (0,8 of a percentage point) and the transport, storage and communication industry (0,5 of a percentage point).

The seasonally adjusted real value added by non-agricultural industries (excluding the impact of the volatile agriculture industry) increased by 5,8 percent, 6,3 percent, 4,7 percent (revised from an increase of 5,0 percent) and 6,0 percent during the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2006 compared with the fourth quarter of 2005 and the first, second and third quarters of 2006 respectively.

The unadjusted GDP at market prices increased by 4,6 percent (revised from an increase of 4,4 percent), 4,5 percent (revised from an increase of 4,3 percent), 4,7 percent (revised from an increase of 4,5 percent) and 6,1 percent during four quarters of 2006 compared with the four quarters of 2005 respectively.

Real annual GDP increases by 5,0 percent in 2006 following an increase of 5,1 percent in 2005

First preliminary annual estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) are derived as the sum of the GDP for the four quarters of the specific year. These estimates indicate that the real annual GDP at market prices for 2006, increased by 5,0 percent compared with 2005 when the real annual economic growth rate was 5,1 percent.

The main contributors to the increase in economic activity in 2006 were finance, real estate and business services (1,6 of a percentage point), wholesale trade, retail trade, hotels and restaurants (0,9 of a percentage point), manufacturing (0,8 of a percentage point) and transport, storage and communication (0,5 of a percentage point) industries.

The real value added by the non-agricultural industries increased by 5,4 percent in 2006, following an increase of 4,9 percent and 5,2 percent in 2004 and 2005 respectively. This is the highest increase since 1980 (6,0 percent).

The GDP estimates are preliminary, and may routinely be revised on the basis of additional evidence that has become available by the time the subsequent quarter`s estimates are released.