ROME (AFX) - Italy’s GDP, unadjusted to the number of working days, rose 1.9 pct year-on-year in 2006 compared with a 0.1 pct rise in 2005, according to the statistics office ISTAT.

ISTAT added that the public deficit totalled 4.4 pct of GDP compared with 4.1 pct a year earlier.

On Feb 13, ISTAT released preliminary GDP data, adjusted to the number of working days, that showed that 2006 GDP rose 2.9 pct.

There were two working days less in 2006 than in 2005.

philip.webster@thomson.com

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