Annual growth was driven by external demand, as exports rose by 10.6% year-on-year, almost double the rate of the year before.

But domestic demand accounts for an increasing share of growth, having accelerated to 4.1% from 2.4% in 2016, the statisticians said.

Household spending expanded from 2.8% to 3.1%, while government spending contracted from 2.6% to 2.3%.

Investment spending surged from just 1% in 2016 to 8.4% in 2017.

Total employment reached 986,000, the highest figure since 2008 and an increase of 2.8%

The quarterly data show the economy continued to operate at high revolutions.

Export growth accelerated to 12.3% year-on-year and imports rose by 13.6%.

Domestic spending grew by 4.5% compared to 2.9% in the third quarter.

Investment growth accelerated from 3.8% to 7.7% on the back of an 11.9% surge in gross fixed capital formation.

Investments in buildings rose by over 18% and investments in machinery and equipment by 8.2%.