By Lucy Craymer
WELLINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) – New Zealand’s economy grew more slowly in the second quarter as the crisis in the Middle East weighed on the economy.
Official data out on Thursday showed gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.2% in the second quarter on the prior quarter, better than analysts’ forecast of a rise of 0.1% and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s forecast of no growth.
Annual GDP increased 2.6%, Statistics New Zealand data showed. The market had expected 2.2% increase.
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Sonali Paul)
