First quarter GDP up by 5.2% over 2015

Provisional estimates indicate that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2016 amounted to €2,185.6 million, an increase of €153.4 million or 7.6 per cent when compared to the corresponding period last year.

In real terms, GDP went up by 5.2 per cent.

During the first quarter of 2016, Gross Value Added (GVA) increased by €124.2 million when compared to the same quarter last year.

This was mainly generated by wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities which increased by €28.4 million or 8.0 per cent.

Other increases were registered in professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities by €24.4 million or 11.2 per cent; and in public administration and defence; education; human health and social work activities which increased by €18.0 million or 5.0 per cent. A slight drop was registered in construction.

Total final consumption expenditure in nominal terms increased by 7.6 per cent and by 6.4 per cent in real terms. Gross fixed capital formation increased by 22.6 per cent in nominal prices and by 16.2 per cent in real terms. Real exports and real imports increased by 0.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.

Compared to the corresponding quarter last year, the increase in GDP at current prices of €153.4 million is estimated to have been distributed into a €54.5 million increase in compensation of employees, a €65.4 million increase in gross operating surplus of enterprises, and a €33.6 million increase in net taxation on production and imports.

Considering the effects of income and taxation paid and received by residents to and from the rest of the world, Gross National Income (GNI) at market prices for the first quarter of 2016 is estimated at €2,150.7 million.