MADRID, Oct 30 Reuters The Spanish economy grew at a fasterthanexpected rate in the third quarter to again outpace its European peers thanks to a strong tourism season and exports, preliminary data showed on Wednesday.

Spain39;s gross domestic product grew 0.8 in the third quarter from the previous three months, the same pace of expansion as in the second quarter, the National Statistics Institute INE said. Yearonyear it grew 3.4, an acceleration from the 3.2 registered in the previous three months.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected GDP to grow 0.6 quarteronquarter and 3.0 yearonyear.

Today39;s data show how strong and balanced the Spanish economy is, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said. The government expects a 2.7 expansion this year.

The Spanish economy39;s strength contrasts with other large economies in the euro zone.

GDP in the 20 countries sharing the euro grew by 0.4 in the third quarter from the previous three months, beating expectations for 0.2, but at half the pace of Spanish growth, Eurostat data showed on Wednesday.

While Germany and France performed marginally better than expected, posting growth of 0.2 and 0.4, respectively, Italy39;s GDP stagnated in the quarter.

Reporting by Tiago Brandao and Inti Landauro, editing by Andrei Khalip and Jan Harvey

Source Reuters