Growth rate decline felt in all economic components (illustration)
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The Israeli economy grew 2.9% in the third quarter of 2012, according to a third revised assessment of the Central Bureau of Statistics, after growing 3.1% in the second quarter and 2.9% in the first quarter.
"The growth in gross domestic product in the third quarter of the year reflects an increase in personal consumption expenditure and a drop in the export of goods and services and fixed asset investment. The public consumption expenditure remained almost unchanged," the CBS said in a statement Wednesday.
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These figures further reflect the economic slowdown trend in 2012. Last month the CBS reported that according to its first assessment, the Israeli economy grew by just 3.3% in 2012 – after growing 4.6% in 2011 and 5% in 2010.
The growth rate decline was felt in all economic components – particularly in the GDP of the business sector, which fell from 5.1% in 2011 to 3.2% in 2012.
The personal consumption expenditure per capita grew by 0.9%, compared to 1.9% in 2011. Exports abroad (including diamonds and high-tech) grew by 1%, compared to 5.5% last year. The import of goods and services grew 3.2%, compared to 11.1% in 2011.
In addition, the investment volume increased by just 3.2% in 2012 compared to 16% last year, and the investment in construction alone grew 5.7% compared to 12.5% in 2011.