(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, APRIL 25 - Tunisian economy slowed down in
this year's first quarter; according to the a survey carried out
by the Central Bank, there was a decrease in consumption of high
and medium voltage power (the voltage used by industrial
consumers). The scenario is made even gloomier by a slowdown in
the export growth rate, which this year totals +9.1% over last
year's +10.3%. Imports continued to increase at a faster rate,
while exports decreased, especially in the mechanical and
electric sector (-11.9%) and in the textile and clothing and
leather and shoes industry (-29.6%), with a simultaneous net
decrease in foreign demand.
On the contrary, the tourism sector is recovering. The
deficit of current orders increased to 1,624 mln dinars, that
is, 2.3% of the Gross domestic product (it totalled 1.5% in
2011), with a broadening of the trade gap totalling 1,066 mln
dinars. In the January-march period, inflation totalled
+5.4%.(ANSAmed).
