Economists were largely expecting a weak growth figure, calling it a blip and not a sign of stagnation. Analysts’ estimates call for just 2.2% to 2.3% annual growth through 2019, just above the average pace during the almost eight-year expansion. Residential investment added 0.5 points to growth. The change in inventories, one of the most volatile parts of the GDP calculation, subtracted 0.93 points from growth, following a 1.01% gain. Trade added slightly to growth, as exports increased by more than imports during the quarter.

Source: Bangkok Post April 28, 2017 12:56 UTC