SYDNEY, June 2 (Reuters) – Australian government spending was flat in the first quarter, data showed on Tuesday, offering no impetus to economic growth early in the year after a run of strong outcomes.
Spending on operational items fell 0.2% in the March quarter from the previous quarter to an inflation-adjusted A$159.3 billion ($114.09 billion), the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported.
Total investment in fixed assets by the government and public enterprises rose 0.9% quarter-on-quarter to A$38.9 billion. In all, the ABS estimated total public spending added nothing to first quarter gross domestic product.
($1 = 1.3963 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Wayne ColeEditing by Shri Navaratnam)
