CROATIA'S GDP IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2001- 4.2%

ZAGREB, July 17 (Hina) - Croatia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2001 increased by 4.2% in relation to the same period last year, the State Bureau of Statistics reported. Referring to these and other data on economic developments, government representatives say this year's GDP will exceed the planned level of four percent. The country's GDP in 2000 was 3.7% higher than the year before. The most important change in this year's first quarter is the recovery of investments. After decreasing through six consecutive quarters, investments in fixed assets in the first quarter of this year increased by 11.6%. At the same time, state spending has been decreasing for the fourth consecutive quarter, the latest decrease being 2.7% in relation to the same period last year. Personal consumption in this year's first quarter rose by 5.3%. The export of goods and services rose by 4.3%, which is the lowest increase in the past year, while imports increased by 11.7%, significantly lowering the real GDP growth rate. This is the highest increase of imports in any quarter since 1997. Croatia's GDP in the first half of this year, expressed in current prices, amounted to 38.6 billion kuna. (hina) rml