BRATISLAVA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The Slovak economy grew by a real 9.8 percent, year-on-year, in the third quarter, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Thursday. KEY POINTS SLOVAK REAL GDP Q3/06 Q2/06 Q3/05 FY/05 (pct change yr/yr) +9.8 +6.7 +6.3 +6.0 (Full GDP table...................[nPRG000163]) - The third-quarter GDP figure is exactly the same as what the bureau reported in its flash estimate last month. - The Statistics Office adds it sees GDP growth of 7.7 percent for the whole of 2006, up from its previous estimate of 6.5 percent growth. It says first quarter 2007 GDP growth is expected at 7.2 percent. Headline CPI is seen at 4.3 percent at the end of 2006, up from a previous forecast of 4.0 percent. BACKGROUND - The Slovak economy has been showing the highest growth rates among the four largest new EU members from central Europe over the past few years. - GDP growth has been helped by reviving domestic demand as households consumption rises after years of belt-tightening reforms. - Investments have also increased in the past year, mainly thanks to large project such as car factories of French PSA Peugeot <PEUP.PA> and South Korean Kia Motors <000270.KS>. LINKS: - For further details on past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Slovak Statistics Office's website: http://wwww.statistics.sk/webdata/english/index2_a.htm - For LIVE Slovak economic data releases, click on......<ECONSK> - Schedule of upcoming indicator releases............<SK/ECON09> - Summary of short-term economic data forecasts......<SK/ECON04> - Stories on Slovak currency moves........................[SKK/] - Slovak speed money guide ..............................<CZK/1> - Slovak benchmark state bond prices .................<0#SKBMK=> - Slovak forward money market rates ....................<SKKFRA> ((Reporting by Martin Santa, martin.santa@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net; +421 2 5341 8402; Editing by Alan Crosby)) Keywords: SLOVAKIA ECONOMY/GDP