GDP fell by 0.3% in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27 during the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with the previous quarter, according to flash estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the third quarter of 2011, growth rates were +0.1% and +0.3% respectively.

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27 in the fourth quarter of 2011, after +1.3% and +1.4% respectively in the previous quarter.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, GDP in the United States increased by 0.7% compared with the previous quarter (after +0.5% in the third quarter of 2011). In Japan GDP declined by 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2011 (after +1.7%).

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, GDP rose by 1.6% in the United States (after +1.5% in the previous quarter), and decreased by 1.0% in Japan (after -0.6%).

Over the whole year 2011, GDP increased by 1.5% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27.