According to Eurostat’s latest flash estimate, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by +0.4% in the euro area and +0.5% across the EU in Q2 2026, compared with the previous quarter. This follows stable GDP in the euro area and growth of +0.1% in the EU in Q1 2026.
Compared with the same quarter a year earlier, GDP increased by +1.0% in the euro area and +1.2% across the EU in Q2 2026. This represents an improvement from Q1, when annual GDP growth stood at +0.5% in the euro area and +0.8% in the EU.
For comparison, US GDP increased by +0.4% in Q2 2026 compared with the previous quarter, following growth of +0.5% in Q1. Compared with the same quarter a year earlier, US GDP increased by +2.1%, down from +2.7% in Q1.
Among EU Member States, the strongest quarterly GDP growth was recorded in Ireland (+3.9%), followed by Slovenia (+1.8%) and Sweden (+1.4%). However, Ireland’s quarterly figures remain particularly volatile, reflecting the significant influence of multinational-dominated sectors on its GDP.
Overall, the latest figures indicate that economic growth strengthened across both the euro area and EU in Q2, with annual growth also accelerating. However, growth remains modest by historical standards and performance continues to vary considerably between Member States.
You can get the latest Eurostat data on quarterly GDP from their website at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/news/euro-indicators (14 August) or request it from MTA.