<sod >Quarter-on-quarter growth eased off slightly, in line with expectations, compared with 0.8 per cent in the third quarter.< eod>< sod > Quarter-on-quarter growth eased off slightly to 0.7 per cent in the three months to December, dragged down by a slowdown in the construction sector in November, compared with 0.8 per cent growth in the third quarter.< eod>