The Portuguese Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 1.6% in volume in the third quarter 2016, compared with the same period of 2015 (0.9% in the two previous quarters). The higher growth rate of GDP mainly reflected the increase of the contribution of net external demand, with Exports of Goods and Services accelerating more than Imports of Goods and Services. The acceleration of exports was common to the components of goods and services. The contribution of domestic demand to the GDP year-on-year change rate also increased, due to an acceleration of private consumption determined by the behavior of the non-durable goods and services component, while the durable goods component decelerated.
Comparing with the second quarter, the GDP increased by 0.8% in real terms in the third quarter (0.3% in the previous quarter). Net external demand contributed positively, reflecting the strong increase of Exports of Goods and Services, while domestic demand recorded a negative contribution.