Euro Zone economic growth slowed at the start of 2026, with gross domestic product rising just 0.1% quarter-over-quarter in the first quarter of 2026, down from a 0.2% increase in the previous three months. The data, updated on 30 April 2026, highlight a loss of momentum following the modest expansion recorded at the end of last year.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Euro Zone economy posted 0.2% quarter-over-quarter growth, measured against the third quarter of 2025. The latest reading for the first quarter of 2026 compares GDP to the fourth quarter of 2025, and indicates that the pace of expansion has halved on a sequential basis.
The quarter-over-quarter comparison shows that, while the bloc remains in positive territory, activity is cooling rather than accelerating. Investors and policymakers will now be watching upcoming data closely to gauge whether the softer 0.1% increase marks the beginning of a more prolonged slowdown or a temporary pause in the recovery path.
