Brussels, 03/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - Figures published by Eurostat on Wednesday 3 September show that GDP in the euro area fell by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2008, compared with the previous quarter, and by 0.1% in the EU27 for the same period. In the first quarter of the year, the growth rate was 0.7% in the euro area and 0.6% in the EU27. Compared with the second quarter of 2007, seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27, after 2.1% and 2.3% respectively the previous quarter.
Household final consumption expenditure fell by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27 (after 0.0% and +0.2% respectively in the previous quarter) and investment fell by 1.2% and 1.6% respectively (after +1.5% and +0.9%). Exports dropped by 0.4% in both the euro area and the EU27 (after +1.8% in both) and imports decreased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27 (after +1.9% and +1.6%). (A.B./transl.rt)