The Croatian economy contracted 0.7% in the second quarter, less than in the previous quarter and than expected.
The National Bureau of Statistics released an initial estimate on Friday according to which Gross Domestic Product in the second quarter of 2013 dropped 0.7% in relation to the corresponding period of last year, the seventh consecutive quarter of economic decline.
By comparison, in the first quarter of the year GDP slid 1.5%.
Seven economic analysts polled by Hina news agency had projected a decline of 1%, their forecasts ranging from 0.8% to 1.4%.
The domestic economy has been on the decline since early 2009. During that time it technically emerged from the recession twice, in the third quarter of 2010 and the second quarter of 2011, after which negative trends have continued.
