According to the final estimate from Eurostat, seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 0.2% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.3% in the EU28 during the fourth quarter of 2018, compared with the previous quarter. In the third quarter of 2018, GDP had grown by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU28.

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU28 in the fourth quarter of 2018, after +1.6% and +1.8% respectively in the previous quarter. Over the whole year 2018, GDP rose by 1.8% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU28. The annual growth rate for 2017 was +2.4% for both the euro area and the EU28.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, household final consumption expenditure rose by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU28 (after +0.1% and +0.2% respectively in the previous quarter). Gross fixed capital formation increased by 0.6% in the euro area and 0.4% in the EU28 (after +0.6% and +0.4% also). Exports increased by 0.9% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU28 (after +0.2% in both zones). Imports increased by 0.5% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU28 (after +1.1% and +0.8%).