Euro zone growth slows in the third quarter
· BehindLines newsroom
European economic activity kept growing over the summer, but at a slower pace than in the spring. According to the preliminary estimate published by Eurostat on 30 October, gross domestic product rose by 0.4% in the euro area in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 0.6% in the previous quarter. In the European Union, the increase fell from 0.7% to 0.5%.
These changes measure the evolution of output in volume terms, adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects. They compare two successive quarters. Over one year, growth reaches 1.3% for the euro area and 1.5% for the Union: this other comparison relates to the third quarter of 2025. The two measures cannot be added together.
Germany moves ahead, with uneven drivers
The German institute Destatis provides a national perspective. Its first estimate, also dated 30 October, reports growth of 0.2% compared with the previous quarter. It describes a slight increase in consumer spending, but a decline in investment.
Destatis also distinguishes two readings of the German annual change: the increase reaches 1.3% in price-adjusted data, and 1.2% when calendar effects are also adjusted. These are therefore not interchangeable estimates. The institute plans to detail its results on 25 November.
Results that are still provisional
The European figure rests on incomplete information and may be revised. Eurostat announces a new estimate for 13 November. The German figures come from a separate Destatis publication.
The slowdown in the quarterly pace does not mean that European output has fallen. Conversely, a positive result for the area as a whole does not describe the situation of each country. To read the upcoming publications, the same comparison period and the same statistical adjustments will need to be kept.