Bratislava - The Slovak economy slowed down in the first quarter of 2008 to 8.7 per cent year-on-year from a record 14.3 per cent the previous quarter, according to government's preliminary data released Thursday.

Slovakia's fast-paced growth has been fuelled by foreign automotive investors. The country, once part of the former Soviet bloc, is on track to adopt the European common currency, the euro, on January 1.

Revised first-quarter gross domestic product figures will be released on June 3, the Slovak Statistical Office said. (dpa)