Istat reported on Tuesday its preliminary estimates showed Italy’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.2 percent q-o-q and by 0.1 percent y-o-y in the first quarter of 2019.

Economists had forecasted the Italian economy to grow by 0.1 percent q-o-q and to fall by 0.1 percent y-o-y in the first quarter.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, Italy’s GDP declined by 0.1 percent q-o-q, but was flat y-o-y.

According to the report, the q-o-q advance was the result of an increase of value added in the agriculture, in the industrial sector, and in services. From the demand side, there was a negative contribution of the domestic component (gross of change in inventories) and a positive one of the net exports.