Brussels, 09/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB) confirmed that improved economic situation. The European forecasts a range of 0% to 0.4% for GDP growth in the third quarter of 2003. For the fourth quarter of 2003, the model suggests an acceleration of growth to a range of 0.2% to 0.6%. the Commission, which is speaking of a "moderate" recovery considers that, "the model suggests an acceleration of growth to a range of 0.2% to 0.6%. Both forecast ranges are unchanged compared to past releases as the indicators used by the model stabilised last month. The acceleration in growth predicted for the fourth quarter stems from the recent improvement in domestic retail confidence, as well as external factors, captured by the rise in the US Purchasing Managers' index for manufacturing". Euro-zone stated that GDP decreased by 0.1% in the second quarter compared to the previous, which represented 0.2% growth compared to the same period last year. In his last monthly bulletin, the ECB writes that the most recent data and information went in the direction of a moderate recovery in the second six months of the year. The ECB is expecting further recovery in 2004 with an improvement in the international context. The ECB points out that interest rates at historically low levels favoured growth as well.