Prague  - The Czech Republic's economy slowed down in the first quarter of 2008 to a growth of 5.3 per cent year-on-year, down from 6.3 per cent in the previous quarter, according to revised government data released Tuesday.

The Czech Statistical Office said that a drop in household and public spending was behind the slower economic pace, which was still above the eurozone's first-quarter growth of 2.2 per cent.

The Czech economy has boomed in recent years amid investments by foreign automotive and electronics makers.

According to revised data also released Tuesday, the Czech economy grew 6.3 per cent in 2005, 6.8 per cent in 2006 and 6.6 per cent in 2007.

But analysts and international organizations expect the Czech Republic's gross domestic product to fall from these record levels to below 5 per cent in 2008. (dpa)