by Kostas Zaligkas
ATHENS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Greece's GDP (gross domestic product) grew by 2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the same period of 2017, according to a report by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) released here on Monday.
ELSTAT stressed that in the first three months of the year, according to the adjusted provisional figures, exports grew by 7.6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2017, while imports of products and services decreased by 2.8 percent in the same period.
Gross capital investment declined by 10.4 percent on year, while consumer spending also declined by 0.3 percent, as opposed to product taxes, which grew by 4 percent in the first quarter of 2018.
Elements released by ELSTAT are of crucial importance in negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)on the country's debt, according to experts and media commentators.
The Fund has stressed that it was expecting Monday's announcement to assess debt sustainability and achievement of primary surplus targets at 3.5 percent of GDP for this year.
