BERN (AFP) -- The Swiss economy grew by 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2007 over 12 months, buoyed by a strong trade balance and private consumption, official data showed.

The state secretariat for economic affairs, which published the figures, said that on a quarterly basis, gross domestic product rose by 0.8 percent in the first quarter from output in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Growth was mainly supported by private consumption and net exports, as well as developments in the financial and domestic-oriented services sectors, it added.

The figures were in line with analysts' expectations, which centered around annual GDP growth of 2.0-2.5 percent, and quarterly growth of between 0.5 and 0.9 percent.