Euro area (EA15) GDP fell by 1.6% and EU27 GDP by 1.5% during the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with the previous quarter, according to second estimates from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. In the third quarter of 2008, growth rates were -0.3% in both zones.

In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP declined in the fourth quarter of 2008 by 1.5% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU27, after +0.6% and +0.7% respectively in the previous quarter.

In the fourth quarter of 2008 and among the Member States for which seasonally adjusted GDP data are available, Slovakia (+2.1%) recorded the highest growth rate compared with the previous quarter, followed by Cyprus (+0.6%), Greece and Poland (both +0.3%), specific data for Malta was not available.

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