National accounts, September 2009

Both household and government final consumption expenditure increased, while gross fixed capital formation in the mainland economy declined. Exports also rose and contributed to the activity growth.

Production in manufacturing advanced in the 3 ^{r d} quarter and contributed positively to the growth in GDP for Mainland Norway. Increased activity in production of food products and production of basic metals contributed most to the overall growth of 1.8 per cent in manufacturing and mining.

Gross value added in construction rose by 1.8 per cent. Fishing and fish farming also contributed positively to the increase in the mainland economy, while a reduction in business services dampened the growth. Production of electricity increased from the 2 ^{n d} to the 3 ^{r d} quarter and had a positive impact of 0.1 percentage points to the growth in GDP for Mainland Norway. Approximately one third of the growth in GDP for Mainland Norway comes from increased activity in general government.

Total GDP increased by 0.9 per cent, mainly as a result of increased activity in oil and gas extraction in the 3 ^{r d} quarter.

The new figures from the quarterly national accounts show that the activity level in Mainland Norway in the first three quarters of 2009 was 1.9 per cent lower than the same period of 2008.

Increase in household final consumption expenditure

After having declined from the 2 ^{n d} quarter of 2008 until the 1 ^{s t} quarter of 2009, household final consumption expenditure has grown in the two previous quarters. There was an increase in the consumption of both goods and services. Consumption of goods was up by 1.9 per cent and consumption of cars accounted for approximately half of this growth. Household final consumption of services grew more moderately by 0.4 per cent. Direct purchases abroad by resident households were down for the sixth quarter in a row.

Increased consumption of healthcare services both in central and local government contributed most to the growth of 1.2 per cent in final consumption expenditure in general government.

Reduction in gross fixed capital formation in Mainland Norway

Gross fixed capital formation in manufacturing receded in the 3 ^{r d} quarter. Household investments in dwellings continued to fall, while an increase in gross fixed capital formation by general government dampened the overall reduction.

0.4 per cent drop in employment

The number of employed persons fell by 0.4 per cent from the 2 ^{n d} to the 3 ^{r d} quarter. A reduction in wholesale and retail trade, business services and manufacturing contributed most to the drop, while increased employment in both central and local government dampened the overall reduction. The number of employed persons was about 40 000 lower in the 3 ^{r d} quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter of 2008.

Increased exports of traditional goods

Both imports and exports of traditional goods increased in the 3 ^{r d} quarter. Exports of traditional goods grew by 6.6 per cent, while imports of traditional goods rose by 1.2 per cent.

Tables

Published tables