Brussels, 10/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - According to figures released by Eurostat on Thursday, the Euro-zone economy in the third quarter of 2002 grew by 0.3% compared to the preceding quarter and by 0.8% compared to the third quarter of 2001. These figures subsequently confirm its initial estimates published in September. The definitive figures will be published in a month's time. The EU Statistical Office forecasts quarterly growth of 0.3% in GDP and annual growth of 0.7%. For the EU as a whole (E 15), Eurostat considers that growth during the third period of 2002 was 0.4% compared to the previous quarter and 1.1% annually compared to 0.4% and 0.9% respectively for the second quarter. Forecasts range from 0.1% to 0.4% for GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2002 compared to the previous quarter. Weak car registrations and poor confidence in the retail sector suggest sluggish consumption and are behind the marginal downward shift of the forecast range. For the first quarter of 2003, quarter on quarter growth is forecast to be in the range of -0.1 to 0.3%. "Although the start of the year is likely to be weak in the Euro area, it remains compatible with the baseline scenario of a gradual recovery in the course of 2003, as published in the Commission Autumn forecasts". (See EUROPE yesterday p 8 on comments made by Wim Duisenberg at the end of the ECB Board of Governors meeting).