The figures published by Eurostat show that Euro area and EU GDP remained stable during the first quarter of 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2011, growth rates were -0.3% in both zones.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published its data for the GDP in the euro area and in the EU during the first quarter of the 2012. With regard to this data, GDP remained stable in both the euro area and the EU, compared with the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2011, growth rates were -0.3% in both zones. Compared with the first quarter of 2011, seasonally adjusted GDP decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and increased by 0.1% in the EU, after +0.7% and +0.8% respectively in the previous quarter. This news confirms the estimated figures that were presented in May 2012.

Household final consumption expenditure was stable in both the euro area and the EU (after -0.5% and -0.2% respectively in the previous quarter) during the first quarter of 2012. Gross fixed capital formation fell by 1.4% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU (after -0.4% and -0.3%). Exports increased by 1.0% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU (after -0.7% and -0.3%). Imports rose by 0.1% in both zones (after -1.7% and -1.3%).

With regard to the data for US and Japan, in the United States GDP increased by 0.5% during the first quarter of 2012, after +0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2011. In Japan GDP increased by 1.0% in the first quarter of 2012, after remaining stable in the previous quarter.