LISBON, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese economy grew at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in Q3 2017, according to a flash estimate released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) on Tuesday.
This represents a quarterly deceleration, with GDP having grown at 2.9 percent in Q1 and 3 percent in Q2. The INE attributed the change in pace to fewer exports.
The European Union (EU) also announced GDP growth figures on Tuesday. Eurozone countries, as well as the EU as a whole, both grew at 2.5 percent year-on-year in Q3.
Thus the Portuguese economy fell in line with its EU partners, having been growing at a quicker rate in previous quarters.
Nevertheless, Portuguese GDP still grew faster in Q3 than those of Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy and Britain.
The Portuguese government has estimated 2.6 percent GDP growth for 2017.
