Seasonally adjusted GDP in the EU and in the Eurozone rose once again in the second quarter of 2017, whilst growth stands at 2.4% and 2.3 respectively compared to the second quarter of 2016, according to an estimate published by the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) on 7 September.
With GDP up 0.5% between the fourth quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, both in the Eurozone and the EU as a whole (see EUROPE 11790), this estimate confirms the member states' return to economic health. With annual growth of 2.3% in the Eurozone and 2.4% in the whole EU in the second quarter of 2017, the figures are better than those reported in the first quarter of this year (2.0% in the Eurozone and 2.1% in the entire EU). Although all of the 25 member states observed (no figures were available for Ireland, Luxembourg or Malta) saw growth, there are differences between them. Portugal and the United Kingdom saw modest levels of growth between the first and second quarters of 2017, at 0.3%, whilst the Czech Republic (2.5%), Sweden (1.7%) and Romania (1.6%) form the top three.
Final household consumer expenditure grew by 0.5% in both areas over the same period and the value of exports grew by 1.1% in the Eurozone, compared to 1.0% in the EU. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)