国际英语新闻：Brazil reports highest quarterly GDP growth since 1995

The agricultural sector's GDP reached 43.2 billion reais (23.07 billion dollars) in the first quarter, up 2.7 percent from the previous quarter and 5.1 percent from the same period last year.

The service sector reported an increase of 1.9 percent from the previous quarter and 5.9 percent from the same period last year, and its GDP reached 479.7 billion reais (256.25 billion dollars).

The Brazilian families' consumption reached 526.7 billion reais (281.35 billion dollars) in the first quarter, up 1.5 percent from the previous quarter and 9.3 percent from the same period last year. Government expenditures amounted to 157.3 billion reais (84.02 billion dollars), up 0.9 percent from the previous quarter and two percent from the same period last year.

Investments were up 7.4 percent from the previous quarter and 26 percent from the first quarter of 2009, totaling 148.4 billion reais (79.27 billion dollars). The investment rate reached 18 percent, up from 16.3 percent in the same period in 2009.

During the four quarters endding in March, the Brazilian GDP expanded by 2.4 percent. Industry registered zero growth, while agriculture shrank 3.3 percent and the service sector expanded 3.6 percent. The investments were up 1.5 percent, the families' consumption was up 6 percent, and the government's expenditures were up 3.1 percent during the period.