Seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.4% and 0.5% respectively in the euro area and the European Union in the first quarter of this year, according to an estimate provided by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) on Thursday 6 June.
The growth rate thus increased by 0.2 percentage points in both groups compared to the previous quarter (see EUROPE 12209/33). Between the first quarters of 2018 and 2019, GDP grew by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU.
However, these rates hide significant disparities across the Union. Thus, last quarter, GDP contracted by 0.1% in Latvia, while the growth rate was 1.8% in Croatia.
On the employment side, it should be noted that the number of people in work also increased in the first quarter of 2019, by 0.3% in both the euro area and the EU. This employment growth rate thus stabilises in the euro area compared to the previous quarter, while it increases by 0.1 percentage point in the European Union. In addition, between the first quarters of 2018 and 2019, the number of people in employment increased by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU.
Here again, differences are to be noted. Thus, in Estonia, the number of people in work fell by 0.4% in the last quarter, while it rose by 1.0% in Hungary and by 0.7% in Spain.
In any case, employment levels are at record levels, with 240.7 million people affected in the EU and 159.5 million in the euro area. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)