FX.co ★ Euro Area GDP Annual Growth Rate Strongest in Over a Year

Eurozone GDP grew by 1.3% year-on-year in Q3 2026, its fastest pace in over a year, following a 1.2% increase in Q2 and exceeding market expectations of 1.1%, according to preliminary estimates. Stronger expansions were recorded in Germany (1.2% vs 1.0%), Spain (2.7% vs 2.6%), the Netherlands (2.1% vs 1.6%), Finland (1.8% vs 1.4%) and Estonia (2.2% vs 1.8%), while Ireland returned to growth (3.6% vs -0.4%). By contrast, France slipped into contraction (-0.1% vs 0.5%), and growth eased in Italy (0.8% vs 1.0%), Portugal (2.4% vs 2.6%), Austria (0.6% vs 0.8%) and Lithuania (2.3% vs 3.9%). Belgium’s economy expanded by 0.7%, unchanged from Q2.