First quarter of 2018 sees a surge in investments

Abstract

According to the most recent quarterly national accounts, Finland’s GDP in the first quarter of 2018 grew 1.2% quarter-on-quarter and 3.1% year-on-year. The data signal similar economic developments for early 2018 to those previously estimated, i.e. the economy continued its strong growth. Private investment in particular increased as building and investment in machinery continued to grow at a brisk pace. GDP growth in the first quarter of 2018 was only slightly stronger than suggested by the flash estimate published in May, while GDP figures for the fourth quarter of 2017 were revised upwards. The Finnish economy has now grown for ten consecutive quarters.