An economist is warning not to expect big growth in GDP figures out today

Data -- due out from Stats NZ just before 11 this morning -- are expected to show the economy has been pulled out of recession, but is still crawling to recovery.

Economists are predicting growth of between 0.3 and 0.5 percent.

Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon says he's predicting flat growth in the fourth quarter.

He says there have been signs things are turning, but its likely to have happened in the beginning of this year.