UPDATE 1-Slovak c.bank chief positive on Q2 growth

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The Slovak central bank (NBS) would consider an acceleration in second-quarter economic expansion healthy if the growth structure remains similar to the previous quarter, NBS chief Ivan Sramko said on Wednesday.

"It is important to look at the details but ... if the structure from the previous quarter is confirmed (then growth) is healthy and sustainable," Sramko said.

"If the largest source of growth is still foreign demand and export performance of the economy, then it might not cause any economic imbalances," he told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The Slovak Statistics Office said on Tuesday real gross domestic product growth was 9.2 percent in the second quarter of 2007 from 9.0 percent in the first three months [ID:nL14691551].

Sramko also sounded little concerned about inflation.

He said Slovakia could report EU-harmonised inflation for July on Thursday within the ceiling set for euro hopefuls.

The EU harmonised consumer price index (HICP_ will be the key yardstick for assessing Slovak price growth for its goal to enter the euro zone in 2009.

"I assume that the harmonised index will get very close (to what inflation data based on national standards are showing)," said the governor.

"There might be a situation that we will meet also the 12-month harmonised average for (July), but we have to wait. It is only preliminary but figures we have got at our disposal give strong support to making such a statement," added Sramko.

Analysts polled by Reuters forecast EU-norm annual inflation will slow to a record low of 1.4 percent for July , down from 1.5 percent a month earlier [ID:nL06417792].

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]