Eurozone growth slows to 0.1% in fourth quarter - data

Economic growth in the 16-nation bloc using the euro single currency slowed to 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009 over the previous quarter, an official EU estimate showed yesterday.

Compared with the same quarter in 2008, seasonally adjusted gross domestic product decreased by 2.1 per cent in the eurozone, the EU's Eurostat data agency said.

It said that GDP fell by four per cent over the whole year of 2009.

In the full 27-nation European Union, growth also rose by 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter compared to the previous three months, and decreased by 2.3 per cent over the year.