INSTANT VIEW 1-Czech Q3 GDP growth slows to 5.8 pct y/y

    PRAGUE, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Czech economic growth slowed to 
5.8 percent in the third quarter from a revised 6.0 percent rise 
in the previous three months, but still beat the market forecast 
of a sharper slowdown thanks to investments and private 
spending. 
    The Czech expansion lagged the boom in the neighbouring 
Slovakia, which posted 9.8 percent growth in July-September and 
took over from the Czech Republic as the fastest growing economy 
in post-Communist central Europe. 
    But the Czech economy still ran neck-and-neck with Poland 
and outpaced Hungary, which reported 3.8 percent growth on 
Friday. 
 
KEY POINTS: 
(pct change)        Q3/06     Q2/06       Fcast Q3 
 year/year           5.8    6.0 (6.2)      5.2 
 
 (For full table of Q2 GDP data...................[nPRA001071]) 
 
- Growth is driven by gross capital formation, including a 7.2 
percent gain in fixed investment and a build-up of inventories. 
- Household consumption revives, rising 4.0 percent. 
- Government spending falls 2.6 percent. 
- Exports up 11.4 percent, imports up 10.6 percent year-on-year 
in real prices. 
 
BACKGROUND: 
- For story on analysts' expectations before the data release, 
double click on [ID:nL30680319] 
- Slovak Q3 GDP                                [ID:nL0737610] 
- Poland's Q3 GDP                             [ID:nL30723924] 
- Hungary's Q3 GDP                            [ID:nBUD001815] 
 
LINKS: 
- For further details on third quarter GDP and past data, 
Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Czech Statistical 
Bureau's website: 
    http://www.czso.cz/eng/csu.nsf/kalendar/2004-hdp 
 
- For LIVE Czech economic data releases, click on       <ECONCZ> 
- Instant Views on other Czech data                 [CZ/INSTANT] 
- Overview of Czech macroeconomic indicators            [CZ/ECI] 
 
- Key data releases in central Europe    [CEE-CONVERGENCE-WATCH] 
- For Czech money markets data click on                <CZKVIEW> 
- Czech money guide                                      <CZK/1> 
- Czech benchmark state bond prices                   <0#CZBMK=> 
- Czech forward money market rates                      <CZKFRA> 
 
 ((Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Alan Crosby; 
prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: 
jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477)) 
  Keywords: CZECH ECONOMY/GDP