february 2003 territory economic review www nt gov au ntt overview more positives than negatives after two years of weak onshore growth the economy began to improve in 2001 02 boosted by direct and indirect flow on effects associated with work alice springs darwin railway some sectors performed well notably construction property business services household consumption grew strongly labour market improved but came from a base was constrained external factors continued outflow population other states tourism affected slump international visitor arrivals due global exacerbated terrorist attacks united collapse ansett as turns corner initial estimate gsp for reported 4 8 per cent higher expected considering sharp fall offshore oil output abs acknowledges experimental volatile nature measure it is often subject major revisions possible that may have been overestimated masking extent patchy pick up risks despite heightened
