Euro area economy grows 0.4% in the third quarter, Germany only 0.2%

The euro area economy grew faster than Germany's over the summer. Seasonally adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) in the 21 euro countries was 0.4% higher in the third quarter of 2026 than in the previous quarter, and 0.5% higher in the EU as a whole. The EU's statistical office, Eurostat, published these figures on 30 October in a preliminary flash estimate. In Germany the increase was 0.2%, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the same day.

Germany has lagged since the spring

At the start of the year it was the other way round. In the first quarter of 2026 the German economy grew by 0.4% while euro area GDP stagnated. In the second quarter the euro area then grew by 0.6% and Germany by 0.3%. Compared with a year earlier, the two are now close together: German GDP in the third quarter was 1.2% higher than a year before, euro area GDP 1.3% higher.

Ireland stands out for its swings. According to the flash estimate, Irish GDP fell by 7.8% in the first quarter, rose by 10.2% in the second and by 5.5% in the third. Eurostat points out that the Irish estimate is classed as experimental and is based on incomplete data, so particular care is needed in interpreting it.

Spain and the Netherlands ahead, France in decline

Among the countries for which Eurostat has published figures so far, Ireland recorded the largest increase on the previous quarter at 5.5%, followed by Estonia, Spain and the Netherlands at 0.6% each. France (minus 0.1%) and Lithuania (minus 1.0%) shrank, and Italy stagnated. Austria and Portugal grew by 0.2%, like Germany.

What lies behind the German figure

According to Destatis, consumer spending in Germany rose slightly in the third quarter, while investment fell on preliminary findings. Exports, which had grown very strongly in the first half of the year, slowed noticeably. The results published so far for the first and second quarters were unchanged in the revision.

Compared with the third quarter of 2025, German economic output was 1.3% higher after adjusting for prices, or 1.2% after also adjusting for calendar effects. That is well above growth for 2025 as a whole, when GDP rose by only 0.2% in price-adjusted terms, according to Destatis data. At current prices, GDP came to about €1,189 billion in the third quarter of 2026.

All figures are provisional. The flash estimate for the euro area and the EU is based on data from 19 member states covering 96% of euro area GDP. Eurostat plans to publish an updated estimate on 13 November 2026, and Destatis detailed results for Germany on 25 November.