GDP up by 4.8 % in 2018 and by 5.1 % in Q4

Data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in 2018 economic growth continued, as gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 4.8 %, compared to 2017. Last year, GDP at current prices constituted EUR 29.5 billion.

Compared to the 3^rd quarter, in the 4^th quarter of 2018 GDP at constant prices increased by 1.2 % (according to seasonally and calendar adjusted data).

GDP value and changes

* Revised data on Q1–Q3 2018.

In 2018, GDP at current prices constituted EUR 29 523.7 million 

Production approach

(2018, compared to 2017, at constant prices)

In 2018, increase was registered in agriculture, forestry and fishing – of 3 %. In agriculture, a drop of 12 % was recorded, including a decline of 21 % in crop production. Compared to the year before, harvested production of grain fell by 24 %, which is the smallest harvested production of grain and the lowest average grain yield from one hectare recorded over the past years. Livestock production remained almost at the level recorded year before (drop of 0.3 %). Forestry and logging rose by 21 % over the year. Value added in fishery grew by 5 %.

Manufacturing went up by 3 %. Industrial output increased in three of the largest manufacturing sectors – manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, and manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products – by 5 % in each. Rise was recorded also in other sectors – manufacture of electrical equipment (of 24 %), manufacture of rubber and plastic products (10 %), and manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (9 %). Manufacture of food products reduced by 3 %.

Other industry fell by 1 %, which was due to the decline in production and transmission of electricity, as well as steam and air-conditioning supply of 6 % that were not compensated by 4 % rise in mining and quarrying.

Construction output increased by 22 %. Over the year, construction of buildings grew by 26 %, civil engineering by 12 %, and specialised construction activities by 28 %.

Retail trade went up by 4 %, of which retail trade in food products increased by 4 % and retail trade in non-food products by 3 %. Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles rose by 6 %.

Upturn in transportation and storage of 5 % was facilitated by 15 % rise in passenger transport. Transportation and storage sector indicates a growth of 2 % while postal and courier activities of 18 %. Freight transport increased by 5 %.

Accommodation and food service activities went up by 5 %, of which accommodation by 11 % and catering by 3 %.

Information and communication services increased by 13 %, of which computer programming, consultancy and related activities by 15 %, information service activities by 18 %, and telecommunications by 12 %.

In 2018, financial and insurance activities fell by 7 %, which was mainly because of the decline in commission income in all sub-sectors, especially in investment management companies and credit institutions. At the same time, rise was registered in services provided in insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, mainly because of the upturn in non-life insurance and private pension funding. The prices of services provided within the sector kept rising.

Professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 1 %, of which architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis by 19 %, other professional, scientific and technical activities by 4 %, while legal and accounting activities reduced by 4 %.

In 2018, administrative and support service activities went up by 8 %, which was facilitated by the 23 % rise rental and leasing activities as well as employment activities. Notable downturn was recorded in security and investigation activities.

In 2018, the volume of taxes on products (value added tax, excise and customs taxes) increased by 8 %.

GDP changes in Q4 2018 and 2018 by main kind of economic activity

Expenditure approach

(2018, compared to 2017, at constant prices)

Compared to the year before, in 2018 total household expenditure rose by 5 %. Expenditure on transport (public transport, purchase and exploitation of transport vehicles) increased by 4 % and expenditure on recreation and culture by 12 %. Household expenditure on food went up by 6 %, while expenditure on housing by 2 %. The key expenditure groups form 61 % of the total household expenditure.

Government final consumption expenditure grew by 4 %.

Investment in the gross fixed capital formation increased by 16 %, of which investments in dwellings and other buildings and structures by 23 % and in machinery and equipment (incl. in vehicles) by 11 %. Investment in intellectual property products (research, computer software, databases, copyrights, etc.) rose by 5 %.

Exports of goods and services went up by 1 %, of which exports of goods by 2 % and exports of services by 1 %. Wood and articles of wood (except furniture) as well as electrical machinery and equipment were main exports commodities. In 2018, an upturn was registered in the value of services related to tourism, as well as telecommunication, information and computer services. Exports of transport services stayed at the level recorded year before, while downturn was recorded in exports of financial and construction services.

Imports of goods and services, in turn, rose by 5 %, of which imports of goods by 4 % and imports of services by 7 %. Machinery and mechanical appliances as well as electrical machinery and equipment are the key imports commodities. Rise was registered in imports of transport and telecommunication services as well as information and computer services. The value of imports of services related to tourism stayed at the level registered year before, while imports of financial services dropped.

GDP changes in Q4 2018 and 2018 by main kind of expenditure

Income approach

(2018, compared to 2017, at current prices)

In 2018, the total compensation of employees increased by 11 %, of which total wages and salaries by 10 % and social security contributions of employers by 15 %. The sharpest rise was recorded in information and communication (of 20 %) and construction (18 %). Gross operating surplus and mixed income increased by 7 % and balance of taxes on production and imports and subsidies by 11 %.

Total wage and salary fund and changes thereof

GDP changes in the Baltic states
(at constant prices, seasonally and calendar non-adjusted, as % of the corresponding period of the previous year)

**Data on Lithuania is a flash estimate.

Possible changes in calculations of government sector, balance of payments and sectors of financial services, as well as services producer indices will be taken into account in GDP calculations and balancing of quarterly national accounts on the 85th day after the reference quarter.  The updated information will be available in the CSB database on 26 March.

Methodological information

Quarterly calculations of the GDP are made in line with the methodology of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010), and the main data sources used in calculations are:

• quarterly and monthly surveys of enterprises and institutions;

• Labour Force Survey data;

• Labour Force Survey data;

• data of the Bank of Latvia and Financial and Capital Market Commission;

• data of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics.

The GDP from production and expenditure approach is calculated at current prices (registration and calculations are made at the actual prices of the respective period) and constant prices. The indicators at constant prices are expressed at prices of the previous calendar year and prices of the reference year (chain-linked).

To calculate GDP at the prices of the previous calendar year the actual prices of the previous calendar year are used as a base and the “annual average” method (where each running quarter is calculated at the average prices of the previous year) is used. To make the calculations, various deflators are used. Both volume indices and price indices may be used as deflators. The following price indices are used: consumer price index, producer price index, construction cost index, services producer price index, price indices of agricultural products, export unit value index, import unit value index. The following volume indices are used: change in number of employees and change in natural indicators (e.g., in removals, passenger number, freights, etc.).

To calculate GDP at the prices of the reference (base) year (currently 2010), the indices calculated from the GDP indicators at the prices of the previous year are used to chain-link the calculated volume indices with 2010.

GDP from the income approach is calculated at current prices only.

The published data are adjusted in line with the Guidelines for CSB Revision Policy. The adjustments are made due to receipt of specified information as well as latest administrative data, inclusion of new economically active enterprises and institutions in surveys, specification of economic activity of sector of enterprises.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366989, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Gita Ķiņķevska
Quarterly National Accounts Section
E-mail: Gita.Kinkevska@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366791