Brussels, 14/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - In the third quarter of 2008, GDP declined by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU27, compared with the previous quarter, according to flash estimates published by Eurostat on 14 November. In the second quarter of 2008, growth rates fell by 0.2% in the euro area and remained unchanged in the EU27. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP grew by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27 in the third quarter of 2008, after +1.4% and +1.7% respectively in the previous quarter. After -0.4% in the second quarter, Germany recorded a fall in GDP of 0.5% in the third quarter. Italy recorded similar falls and, similarly, fell into recession. The United Kingdom has avoided this fate. Its GDP fell by 0.5%, but there had been zero growth the previous quarter (with recession defined as a fall in GDP over two consecutive quarters). After a fall of 0.3% in the second quarter, French GDP rallied somewhat, increasing by 0.1%. In Spain, however, the trend is reversed. Growth fell by 0.2% after a 0.1% rise in the second quarter. (A.B./transl.rt)