The economy grew an astounding 2.3% in the March quarter, fuelled by growth in the goods-producing industries, Statistics New Zealand said today.
Sunday, June 27th 2004, 8:28AM
by The Landlord
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 2.3% trounced economists' predictions of 1.6% growth for the three months ended March 31.
It followed a rise of 0.7% in the December quarter.
The big jump in the March quarter boosted the annual growth rate to 3.6% from 3.4% in calendar 2003.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected a rise of 3.5%.
The March quarter rise makes it a virtual certainty the Reserve Bank will lift interest rates twice more in the current tightening round.
The statistics, which were expressed in 1995/96 prices, showed growth in the imports sector outpaced that in the exports sector in the March quarter.
