Preliminary figures indicated an annual growth of 1.2% for the April-June period. Compared with the first three months of 2012, the gross domestic product increased 0.5% in the second quarter, in line with previous estimations.
Output in professional, scientific and technical services sector increased at an annual rate of 3.7% in the second quarter of 2012, down from a 6.1% growth initially envisaged, revised data showed.
Construction activity rose 3.6% year-on-year, also down from an increase of 5.2% reported last month.
The IT&C sector made a positive contribution of 1.5% to the second-quarter economic growth, while output in the real estate and industry sectors advanced 1.1% and 0.3% on the year, respectively.
“As a result of the overall positive economic evolution, tax collection improved in the second quarter, and net taxes on products grew at an annual pace of 5.7%,” INS said. Previously, the statistics institute announced net taxes on products increased 3.8% year-on-year in the second quarter.
The GDP report showed activity in the public administration, defense and other services declined at an annualized rate of 2.1% in the second quarter, compared with a decrease of 1.9% estimated previously.
Agriculture made a negative contribution of 1.6% to the economic growth, while activity in financial and insurance and retail sectors declined 1.6% and 0.9%, respectively.
On the other hand, domestic demand growth was revised upward to 1.3% in the second quarter, from 0.9% initially estimated. Final consumption rose 1.3% on the year, also up from an increase of 1.1% reported last month.
Exports inched up 0.5% on the year in the April-June period, while imports were up 0.2%, the data showed.