OSLO - Norway's mainland economy grew at a slower pace than economists had expected in the second quarter of 2024, Statistics Norway (SSB) data showed on Thursday.

The April-June period saw a rise in mainland GDP of 0.1% compared with the January-March period, while economists polled by Reuters had expected growth of 0.2%.

When adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, and measured in constant prices, there was zero growth from the first to the second quarter, the agency added.

"Growth in the mainland economy has been unusually weak over the past year, and this trend continued in the second quarter," SSB's Head of National Accounts Paal Sletten said in a statement.

Mainland GDP, which excludes the often volatile impact of Norway's oil and gas production, is the most commonly watched measure of how the Norwegian economy is performing.

In June, the final month of the second quarter, mainland GDP was unchanged from May.

The Norwegian crown currency strengthened slightly against the euro to trade at 11.70 at 0608 GMT from 11.71 just ahead of the data release.

First-quarter mainland GDP was meanwhile revised downwards to 0.1% growth from 0.2% expansion originally reported.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Louise Rasmussen)