Seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 0.2% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.3% in the EU28 during the third quarter of 2018, compared with the previous quarter, according to an estimate published by Eurostat.
Among Member States for which data are available for the third quarter of 2018, Malta (+3.6%) recorded the highest growth compared with the previous quarter, followed by Romania (+1.9%), Latvia and Poland (both +1.7%). Negative growth was observed in Lithuania (-0.3%), Germany and Sweden (both -0.2%) and Italy (-0.1%).
During the third quarter of 2018, household final consumption expenditure rose by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU28 (after +0.2% and +0.3% respectively in the previous quarter). Exports fell by 0.1% in the euro area and increased by 0.3% in the EU28 (after +1.0% and +0.7%). Imports increased by 0.5% in the euro area and 0.3% in the EU28 (after +1.1% and +1.0%).
Among Member States for which data are available for the third quarter of 2018, Malta (+0.9%), Cyprus and Lithuania (both +0.8%), Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia (all +0.7%) recorded the highest employment growth compared with the previous quarter. Decreases were observed in Estonia (-0.8%), Bulgaria and Italy (both -0.3%), Croatia and Poland (both -0.2%) and Romania (-0.1%).
Based on seasonally adjusted figures, Eurostat estimates that in the third quarter of 2018, 239.3 million people were employed in the EU28, of which 158.3 million were in the euro area. These are the highest levels of employment ever recorded in both areas.