GDP grew by 0.4% in the euro area (EA13) and by 0.5% in the EU27 during the fourth quarter of 2007, compared with the previous quarter, according to flash estimates published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. In the third quarter of 2007, growth rates were +0.8% in both the euro area and the EU27.

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP grew by 2.3% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27 in the fourth quarter of 2007, after +2.7% and +3.0% respectively in the previous quarter.

During the fourth quarter of 2007, US GDP increased by 0.2% compared with the previous quarter, after +1.2% in the third quarter. In Japan, GDP grew by 0.9% in the fourth quarter, after +0.3% in the third quarter. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, GDP grew in the fourth quarter by 2.5% in the US and by 1.8% in Japan, after +2.8% and +1.9% respectively in the previous quarter.

Over the whole year 2007, GDP grew by 2.7% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU27.