New Zealand's economy grew slightly in the last three months of the year, managing to avoid a recession.

2010年第四季度，新西兰经济略有增长，成功避免了一场经济危机。

Gross domestic product expanded 0.2% in the three months to the end of December, according to Statistics New Zealand. The economy had contracted by 0.2% in the previous three months.

That pushed the annual rate of growth to 1.5%.

The figures show the state of the economy before the country was hit by a severe earthquake last month.

"The focus now is on how quickly economic activity rebounds," said Philip Borkin from Goldman Sachs.

'Poor news'

Analysts² have said that economic growth was set to slow in coming months.

On 22 February an earthquake hit Christchurch, the second in the region in five months.

More than 180 people were left dead as it caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure³.

At its latest meeting earlier this month, New Zealand's central bank cut interest rates to 2.5% in an effort to stoke growth.

"The actions of the Reserve Bank have been in anticipation⁴ of（预期） further poor news," said Robin⁵ Clements of UBS.

'Mixed picture'

The latest figures reflect the state of New Zealand's economy between October and December, before the earthquake struck.

According to the statistical⁶ office, manufacturing rose by 2.5% helped by an increase in metal production, and machinery⁷ and equipment.

At the same time real estate and business services, and forestry⁸ and logging（伐木） all gained.

"The small increase in gross domestic product this quarter is the result of a mixed picture across industries," Rachael Milicich of Statistics New Zealand said.

"A rebound¹ in manufacturing activity this quarter has been mostly offset⁹（抵消，弥补） by falls in other parts of the economy."