Investments at last begin to accompany and exceed growth

The Central Statistical Office (GUS) published data that reveals that there was a significant revival in corporate investments during the first half of the year, which increased 9% to reach zł.24 billion. The main investors were processing companies which are exporting a large share of their output. They also started employing more staff. "Despite that, while the economy is still growing fast it will slow down and the pace from Q1 will not be kept," said Janusz Witkowski, deputy president of GUS. Economists believe the GDP increased by 6% in Q2 and that this will drop to 5% in the following quarter. Exports grew 24% in the first half to reach zł.27.9 billion. At the same time the efficiency of the domestic companies improved by 16%, which resulted in only a slight drop in unemployment to 19.3% in July. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) M.M.