The European Commission has shaved its forecast for euro zone growth in the third quarter to 0.3-0.7% from 0.4-0.8% previously, but it gave no reason for the change.
The commission said it was holding to its forecast that growth in the second quarter would be 0.3-0.7%.
Meanwhile the EU's statistical arm Eurostat reported that the euro zone economy grew by 0.6% in the first quarter of this year from the figure for the last quarter of 2003. This confirmed an estimate given in June.
Eurostat said that the annual rate first quarter growth in the euro zone was 1.3%. It said euro zone output in the first three months of 2004 was marked by accelerating household consumption and increased exports, while investment declined.
