IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The seasonally adjusted real GDP at market prices for the third quarter of 2012 increased by an annualised rate of 1,2 per cent compared with an increase of 3,4 per cent (revised from 3,2 per cent) during the second quarter of 2012.

The main contributors to the increase in economic activity for the third quarter of 2012 were finance, real estate and business services and general government services (each contributing 0,4 of a percentage point), the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, the manufacturing industry and the wholesale, retail, motor trade; and catering and accommodation industry (each contributing 0,2 of a percentage point). The mining and quarrying industry recorded a negative contribution of 0,6 of a percentage point, and the contributions by the electricity, gas and water industry and the construction industry  were insignificant.

The seasonally adjusted real annualised value added by the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors recorded a decrease of 7,1 per cent, an increase of 1,5 per cent and an increase of 1,9 per cent respectively during the third quarter of 2012.

The unadjusted real GDP at market prices for the third quarter of 2012 increased by 2,3 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2011. The estimates of GDP for the first nine months of 2012 compared with the corresponding period in 2011 increased by 2,6 per cent.

Real annual GDP increased by 3,5 per cent in 2011 following an increase of 3,1 per cent (revised from an increase of 2,9 per cent) in 2010

According to the latest preliminary indicators, the independent annual real estimate of GDP for 2011 increased by 3,5 per cent compared with 2010.

The main contributors to the increase in economic activity in 2011 were finance, real estate and business services (0,8 of a percentage point), the manufacturing industry and the wholesale, retail and motor trade; catering and accommodation industry (each contributing 0,6 of a percentage point), general government services (0,5 of a percentage point) and the transport, storage and communication industry (0,3 of a percentage point).

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.