CSO figures expected to show further contraction in 2010

IRELAND’S gross domestic product is expected to have contracted for the third year running in 2010.

Analysts said that CSO figures on Thursday will likely show that the economy again contracted last year, due in part to the adverse weather conditions.

Bloxham economists said that while the main international focus in the coming week will be on the outcome of the Eurozone leaders’ debt crisis summit in Brussels, the key domestic interest will be on the fourth quarter GDP numbers on Thursday.