BEIRUT: The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that Lebanon’s gross domestic product had been growing at a fast pace in 2010 for the fourth consecutive year. The IMF, which released a 12-page report analyzing the performance of the Lebanese economy from 1997 to 2010, noticed that growth strengthened after a decade of lackluster performance (averaging 2.5 percent per year from 1998-2006) due to economic and political crises as well as armed conflict. “During 2010, growth was concentrated in construction, and financial and health services. In contrast, growth in retail and wholesale trade was negative for the first time in three years,” the report said. “From the demand side, growth in 2010 was mostly private sector driven (consumption and investment), with a positive contribution from net exports for the first time in three years.” [Link]