OSLO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mainland Norway's economy expanded by 0.5 percent in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by Statistics Norway on Thursday.
This marks a slight acceleration in growth compared to earlier quarters, reflecting resilience in key sectors despite challenges in others, the agency said in a press release.
Key sectors drove the growth, with manufacturing and mining up 2.3 percent, led by oil refining, chemical production, and machinery repair.
Fishing and aquaculture surged 14 percent, driven by strong mackerel catches, though electricity production and construction continued to decline.
While the mainland's GDP expanded, Norway's total GDP, including petroleum and ocean transport, fell by 1.8 percent, as extensive maintenance activities on the Norwegian continental shelf dampened oil and gas production.
The seasonally adjusted employment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points, adding 16,800 more employed persons than in the same quarter in 2023. ■