According to a preliminary flash estimate published by Eurostat, seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 0.1% in both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 during the fourth quarter of 2019, compared with the previous quarter. Economists had expected a 0.2% increase in the euro area. In the third quarter of 2019, GDP had grown by 0.3% in both zones.

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 1.0% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU28 in the fourth quarter of 2019, after +1.2% and +1.4% respectively in the previous quarter. Economists had expected a 1.1% increase in the euro area.

According to a first estimation of annual growth for 2019, based on quarterly data, GDP grew by 1.2% in the euro area and 1.4% in the EU28.