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%).
Variation in components of GDP
In the fourth quarter of 2008, household final consumption expenditure declined by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27 (after +0.1% and 0.0% respectively in the previous quarter). Investments fell by 4.0% in the euro area and by 3.3% in the EU27 (after -0.7% and -1.1%). Exports fell by 6.7% in the euro area and by 6.1% in the EU27 (after -0.2% and -0.3%). Imports decreased by 4.7% in the euro area and by 5.0% in the EU27 (after +1.3% and +0.9%).
US GDP down by 1.6%, Japanese GDP down by 3.2%
Among the main partners of the EU, GDP decreased by 1.6% in the US in the fourth quarter of 2008 (-0.1% in the previous quarter). In Japan GDP fell by 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2008 (-0.4% in the previous quarter).
Compared with the fourth quarter of 2007, GDP declined by 0.8% in the US (+0.7% in the previous quarter) and by 4.3% in Japan (-0.2% in the previous quarter).
In 2008 GDP grew by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27
Over the whole year 2008, GDP grew by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27, compared with +2.6% and +2.9% respectively for 2007.
Over the whole year 2008, GDP grew by 1.1% in the US (+2.0% in 2007) and declined by 0.6% in Japan (+2.4% in 2007).
