Eurozone recovery picks up speed

  29 April 2016    Read: 617
Eurozone recovery picks up speed
The eurozone`s economy grew by a faster-than-expected 0.6% in the first three months of the year, according to official statistics.
The growth rate in the 19-nation bloc doubled from the 0.3% rate recorded in the previous quarter, and was above analysts` expectations of 0.4%.

However, separate data from Eurostat also indicated that deflation had returned to the eurozone.

Inflation in the bloc fell to minus 0.2% in April, down from zero in March.

Other Eurostat figures showed the eurozone`s unemployment rate fell to 10.2% in March, the lowest rate for four-and-a-half years.

Uncertainties remain

The latest growth figures suggest that the eurozone`s economy is now bigger than it was before the start of the financial crisis eight years ago.

The eurozone has recently benefited from a fall in oil prices and the euro, particularly in Germany.

Looser budgetary policies by government have also freed up resources in some of the region`s debt-laden economies.

Howard Archer, economist at IHS Global Insight, said the eurozone should be able to sustain a growth rate of about 0.4% quarter-on-quarter in the future, but warned the rate could ease in the three months to June.

"Global economic uncertainties and problems are still a handicap for eurozone growth, not only through limiting exports but also through weighing down on business and consumer confidence," he said.

"The risk of recurrent terrorist attacks and the possibility of the UK voting to leave the EU in June`s referendum are also uncertainties that could impact on eurozone growth."

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