00:00The Eurozone delivered a better-than-expected performance in the second quarter of 2026
00:06with the GDP expanding by 0.4%, quarter-on-quarter, up from flat growth in the first quarter
00:14and, ahead of economists' expectations, by a 0.2% increase.
00:19Across the EU, growth accelerated to 0.5% from 0.1% previously.
00:25Annual growth also strengthened, reaching 1.0% in the Euro area and 1.2% across the EU.
00:34According to Pantheon Macroeconomics calculations, the rebound in Ireland alone added 0.1% points to headline Eurozone growth.
00:44It was followed by Lithuania, where the economy grew by 1.7%, and Sweden, which expanded by 1.4%.
00:53Europe's largest economies, Germany, France and Italy, all expanded, but at a slower pace than previously.
01:02However, Belgium and Austria stagnated, recording no growth during the quarter.
01:08Economists say, although the figures suggest the bloc is proving more resilient than feared,
01:13despite high up energy prices and continued geopolitical uncertainty,
01:19recent preliminary July data show pressures are sticking back up in major economies due to renewed energy shocks.
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