Compared with the first quarter of 2011, GDP was 0.0% in the euro area and +0.1% in the EU during the first quarter of 2012, i.e. remained stable. In the fourth quarter of 2011, growth rates were -0.3% in both zones.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published its estimations with regard to the GDP figures registered for the first quart of 2012. According to the figures, GDP remained stable in both the euro area and the EU during the first quarter of 2012, compared with the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2011, growth rates were -0.3% in both zones.

The GDP remained stable in the euro area and increased by 0.1% in the EU in the first quarter of 2012, compared with the same quarter of the previous year, after +0.7% and +0.8% respectively in the previous quarter. On the other hand, during the first quarter of 2012, GDP in the United States increased by 0.5% compared with the previous quarter (after +0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2011). Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, GDP rose by 2.1% in the United States (after +1.6% in the previous quarter).

Eurostat also published its estimations for the volume of retail trade that in March 2012 compared with February 2012, rose by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU. In February retail trade fell by 0.2% and 0.5% respectively. In March 2012, compared with March 2011, the retail sales index dropped by 0.2% in the euro area, but grew by 1.0% in the EU.