Exports contribute to growth, but drought dampens outlook =2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
Exports contribute to growth, but drought dampens outlook =2

In the third quarter, net exports - exports minus imports - will add 0.4 percentage
points to gross domestic product, the first contribution to growth for 21 quarters.

"We needed this to help to support a positive GDP tomorrow," said Anthony Thompson,
senior economist at Westpac.

Other quarterly data that feeds into the national accounts has been fairly benign,
notably yesterday's unexpected further drop in business inventories in the third quarter.

Australia's slim 0.3 per cent economic growth in the second quarter was partly blamed
on a fall in business stocks.

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KEYWORD: EXPORTS 2 CANBERRA

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