Bratislava - The Slovak economy slowed down to 7 per cent in the third quarter of 2008, the weakest annual growth in three years, but remained strong as the
15-member eurozone plunged into recession, revised government data showed Thursday.

The annual gross domestic product (GDP) slowed from a revised 7.9 per cent in the second quarter, the Slovak Statistical Office said.

While the GDP fell by more than half from the record 14.3 per cent posted in the last three months of 2007, Slovakia still outpaced its central European neighbours in the July-September period.

Slovakia, which is to adopt the euro on January 1, has expanded at a record pace in recent years after a rush of automotive makers and has not been so far hit by the crisis on the global financial markets.

The statisticians also said Thursday that the country's third- quarter unemployment rate, based on sample surveys, further fell to 9 per cent, from 10.1 per cent in the second quarter.

But the slump in Western Europe is expected to eventually dampen the export-driven economy in the country of 5 million. (dpa)