Rise in Europe's GDP growth

The gross domestic product in the eurozone grew by two per cent and by 2.3 per cent in the 25 EU members last year, compared to +0.5 per cent and +0.9 per cent respectively for 2003, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Communities.

During last year, household consumption expenditure grew by 1.2 per cent in the eurozone and by 1.7 per cent in the EU25 (after +1.0 per cent and +1.3 per cent respectively in 2003).

Investments increased by 1.3 per cent in the eurozone and by 2.3 per cent in the EU25 (after -0.5 per cent and -0.1 per cent in 2003).

Exports rose by six per cent in the eurozone and by 6.2 per cent in the EU25 (after +0.2 per cent and +0.9 per cent in 2003).

Imports increased by 6.3 per cent in the eurozone and by 6.6 per cent in the EU25 (after +2.0 per cent and +2.3 per cent in 2003).

The eurozone industrial producer price index rose by 0.6 per cent in January compared to the previous month.

During January, EU25 prices increased by 0.5 per cent. In December last year prices fell by 0.2 per cent in both the eurozone and the EU25.

In January this year, industrial producer prices grew by 3.9 per cent in the eurozone and by 4.6 per cent in the EU25 when compared to the same month last year.