Irish growth tops eurozone league

The Irish Republic's economy continues to expand at a much faster pace than its neighbours in the eurozone despite a housing slowdown, figures indicate.
The Central Statistics Office said gross domestic product (GDP) climbed 6.7% in the six months to June, up from 5.2% in the first half of 2006.

The more favoured growth measurement, gross national product, which strips out foreign investment, rose 5.7%.

The figures are more than double the average across the 13-nation euro bloc.

Economists are predicting that full-year growth will be between 5% and 6%, with a drop in homebuilding being more than offset by a strong rise in commercial property construction and state-funded infrastructure.