Vienna - Austria's economy has pulled out of recession, with third quarter growth of 0.9 per cent, the Austrian Institute of Economic Research said Friday.

It joins the Netherland in officially emerging from the down turn in figures released Friday.

The growth in gross domestic product (GDP) was the first quarter- on-quarter increase since the second quarter of 2008.

Exports and investments in the construction sector drove the turnaround, the researchers said.

But they warned that growth could only be achieved because of the government's economic stimulus packages. "One cannot talk of a self-sustained recovery yet," the institute said.

Compared to last year's third quarter, Austria's GDP fell by 2.4 per cent between July and September. (dpa)