Seasonally adjusted GDP grew by 0.2% in the euro area and the European Union in the fourth quarter of 2018, while the number of persons employed increased by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the European Union, according to a flash estimate from the European Union Statistical Office (Eurostat) on Thursday 14 February.
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, Eurostat also estimates that GDP in the euro area and the EU grew by 1.2% and 1.4% respectively. Over the whole of 2018, the growth rate reached 1.8% in the euro area and 1.9% in the European Union, compared with 2.4% in both groups in 2017 (see EUROPE 12014).
Despite these general rates, the situation differs significantly between Member States. GDP grew by 1.6% in Lithuania in the fourth quarter of 2018, while it fell by 0.2% in Italy over the same period.
With regard to the number of persons employed, Eurostat estimates that between the fourth quarters of 2017 and 2018, growth of 1.2% was recorded in both the European Union and the euro area. Over the whole of 2018, employment grew by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)