In the fourth quarter of 2006 and among the Member States for which seasonally adjusted GDP data are available, Latvia (+2.5%) recorded the highest growth rate, followed by Slovakia (+2.2%), Malta (+2.1%) and Estonia (+2.0%).
Growth in investment and exports accelerates
In the fourth quarter of 2006, household final consumption expenditure grew by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU25 (after +0.7% and +0.6% in the previous quarter). Investment grew by 1.5% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU25 (after +0.9% and +1.2%). Exports rose by 3.6% in the euro area and by 3.0% in the EU25 (after +1.9% and +0.2%). Imports increased by 1.7% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU25 (after +2.2% and +0.2%).
Among the Member States for which seasonally adjusted expenditure data are available, growth rates of household final consumption ranged from -0.4% in Hungary to +4.1% in Latvia. Growth of gross fixed capital formation varied between -1.4% in Portugal and +7.1% in Luxembourg. Exports grew most strongly in Malta (+7.1%) while Latvia
(-6.7%) recorded the strongest decrease. Imports rose the most in Latvia (+21.9%) while they fell the most in Malta (-3.6%).
US GDP up by 0.6%, Japanese GDP up by 1.3%
Among the main partners of the EU, GDP grew by 0.6% in the US in the fourth quarter of 2006 (after +0.5% in the third quarter). In Japan GDP grew by 1.3% in the fourth quarter of 2006 (+0.1% in the previous quarter).
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2005, GDP rose by 3.1% in the US (+3.0% in the previous quarter) and by 2.5% in Japan (+1.5% in the previous quarter).
GDP grew by 2.7% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU25 in 2006
Over the whole year 2006, GDP grew by 2.7% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU25, compared to +1.4% and +1.7% respectively for 2005.
Over the whole year 2006, GDP grew by 3.3% in the US (+3.2% in 2005) and by 2.2% in Japan (+1.9% in 2005).
