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JERUSALEM, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Israel's economy ended 2017 on a strong note, growing a more-than-expected annualised 3.6 percent in the fourth quarter, the Central Bureau of Statistics said on Sunday, although it was a slightly slower pace than the prior three months.
A Reuters poll of economists had forecast 3.4 percent growth for the October-December quarter.
The bureau revised up its third-quarter gross domestic product growth estimate to an annualised 3.9 percent from 3.5 percent.
Israel's economy grew 3.3 percent in 2017, up from a prior estimate of 3 percent and producing some 1.26 trillion shekels($355.4 billion). It is forecast to grow about 3.4 percent this year.
The data are not expected to have an impact on interest rates. The Bank of Israel has held its benchmark interest rate at 0.1 percent for three years and is expected to stay on hold until at least late 2018 given an inflation rate that is still below a 1-3 percent annual target.
The central bank has said that growth in 2017 was more balanced and not just reliant on consumer spending, given a spurt in services exports.
In the fourth quarter, exports -- about 30 percent of economic activity -- grew 7.7 percent, while private spending rose 1.3 percent, both well below third-quarter levels.
Investment in fixed assets fell 5.5 percent, imports edged up 0.5 percent and government spending jumped 9.7 percent. ($1 = 3.5455 shekels)
(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Tova Cohen and Toby Chopra)
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