Australia's economy slowed sharply in the September quarter, validating the Reserve Bank's decision to wind back three years of interest rate rises in a little over three months.

Gross domestic product grew by 0.1%, seasonally adjusted, in the three months to September, down from a revised 0.4% gain in the June quarter, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported. The result was the weakest pace since December 2000. Analysts expected a 0.2% increase for the quarter.

The Age