DATA SNAP: Australian 2Q GDP +0.6% On Qtr Vs +0.2% Consensus

SYDNEY -- Australia's average measure of gross domestic product rose 0.6% in the second quarter of 2009 from the first quarter and rose 0.6% from the year-earlier period, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday.

The data were higher than expected. Economists on average had expected that GDP rose 0.2% on a quarterly basis and rose 0.3% from a year earlier.

First quarter GDP was +0.4%.

It said gross national expenditure rose 1.0% in the second quarter from the first quarter and fell 0.4% from the year-earlier quarter.

The bureau calculates GDP using an income-based measure, an expenditure measure, a production measure and the average of these figures, which is its preferred measure.