EUROSTAT released the first estimates for the fourth quarter of 2005. It stated that Both euro-zone1 and EU25 GDP grew by 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005, compared to the previous quarter, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. In the third quarter of 2005, growth rates were +0.7 percent in both zones.
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2004, GDP rose by 1.7 percent in the euro-zone and by 1.8 percent in the EU25, after +1.6 percent and +1.8 percent respectively in the previous quarter.
Private consumption weak, investments and external trade slowing down During the fourth quarter of 2005, household2 final consumption expenditure fell by 0.2 percent in the euro-zone and remained stable in the EU25 (after +0.5 percent and +0.6 percent in the third quarter 2005).
Investments grew by 0.8 percent in the euro-zone and by 0.6 percent in the EU25 (after +1.1 percent and +1.5 percent). Exports rose by 0.5 percent in the euro-zone and by 0.6 percent in the EU25 (after +3.4 percent and +3.0 percent). Imports increased by 0.9 percent in the euro-zone and by 0.8 percent in the EU25 (after +3.1 percent and +2.9 percent).
US GDP up by 0.4 percent, Japanese GDP up by 1.4 percent In the United States, GDP increased by 0.4 percent during the fourth quarter of 2005, after +1.0 percent in the third quarter. In Japan GDP grew by 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005, after +0.3 percent in the previous quarter.
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