The Slovak economy expanded at a faster rate in the first quarter, data released by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic showed Wednesday.
Gross domestic product, at constant prices, increased a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent quarter-over-quarter in the first quarter, after recording a 0.1 percent gain in the previous quarter.
The growth was driven by an upturn in foreign demand, which was partially offset by the slump in the domestic economy.
Year-on-year, unadjusted GDP advanced 0.6 percent during the three-month period, slower than the 0.7 percent growth seen in the fourth quarter, the agency said.
Separately, the agency said unemployment rate in Slovakia increased to 14.5 percent in the first quarter from 14.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, the jobless rate was 14.1 percent.
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