Last year's nominal growth rate was 8.3 per cent, with GDP amounting to HRK 250.6 billion or EUR 34.2 billion.
The 2006 GDP growth rate was primarily generated by an increase in exports of goods and services and growing fixed capital investment, analysts from the Croatian Chamber of Economy said in the latest report on economic trends.
Balance of payments data showed an increase in commodity exports of 16.9 per cent and in services exports of 6.0 per cent. Fixed capital investments rose 10.9 per cent, considerably boosting activities in the construction sector.
After a slowdown in 2005, personal spending, which accounts for 56 per cent of GDP, picked up again, increasing from 3.4 per cent in 2005 to 3.5 per cent in 2006.
Net salaries saw an increase in real terms of 1.9 per cent, while the household loan growth rate reached a high of 21.9 per cent.
Government spending went up 2.2 per cent, but did not substantially affect the GDP rate.
Imports of goods and services rose 7.3 per cent, compared to 3.5 per cent in 2005 and 4.6 per cent in 2004.