The economy is expected to look better than earlier predictions

Figures -- due out from Stats NZ this morning -- are expected to show the country's GDP grew 0.7-percent for the first quarter of the year.

It's slightly higher than 0.4 predicted earlier this year.

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says things are expected to slow through the middle half of the year.

He says productivity and population growth has slowed, which is a challenge.