Seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the European Union in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with the previous quarter, according to a preliminary flash estimate issued by the EU’s statistical office (Eurostat) on Monday 31 January.
According to a first estimate of the annual growth rate for 2021, based on seasonally and calendar adjusted quarterly data, GDP increased by 5.2% in both the euro area and the EU.
These estimates are based on incomplete data which will still be subject to revision, Eurostat points out.
Among the ten Member States for which data are available for the fourth quarter of 2021, Spain recorded the highest increase compared with the previous quarter(+2.0%), followed by Portugal (+1.6%) and Sweden (+1.4%). Decreases were registered in Austria (-2.2%), Germany (-0.7%) and Latvia (-0.1%). GDP grew by 0.7% in France and 0.6% in Italy.
Growth rates in 2021 compared to 2020 were positive for all countries. Growth was strongest in Italy (+6.4%), Sweden (+6.1%), Portugal (+5.8%) and Belgium (+5.6%). It was 5.4% in France, 5.2% in Spain and 1.4% in Germany. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)