Economic growth in the 15 countries sharing the euro slowed last year to 2.6% from 2.8% in 2006, the European Union's Eurostat data agency confirmed today.
In its 'second estimates', Eurostat said that growth in the fourth quarter of 2007 had slumped to 0.4% from 0.7% in the previous three months, amid a slight contraction in household spending.
On a 12-month basis, euro zone growth slowed to 2.2% in the final three months of 2007 after 2.7% in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the 27-nation EU economy expanded 2.9% last year, down slightly from 3.1% in 2006. In the fourth quarter, the EU economy grew 0.5% and 2.5% over one year, Eurostat said.
