21/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to initial estimates by Eurostat, which were published on 13 August, euro zone GNI fell by 0.1% in the second quarter of 2009 and that of the EU of 27 by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter. Over the first quarter of 2009, the growth rate stood at -2.5% in the euro zone and -2.4% in the EU of 27. Compared to the same period in 2008, euro zone GNI experienced a drop of 4.6% and that of the EU of 27 a drop of 4.8% (compared to -4.9% and -4.7% respectively in the previous quarter). In the United States, GNI fell by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter, after a drop of -1.6% in the first quarter of 2009. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, American GNI fell by 9.3% (-3.3% in the previous quarter). (A.B./trans.fl)