Eurozone GDP Data Confirm First-Quarter Growth Slowdown

[ThunderBlade + 231]

Economic growth in the eurozone cooled in the first quarter to the weakest pace since mid-2016, according to figures released on Thursday that confirm a previous estimate. Gross domestic product expanded by 0.4 per cent in the euro area in the first three months of this year, on a quarter over quarter basis, according to Eurostat’s third reading. The rate was the lowest since the third quarter of 2016. The report highlights the eurozone’s disappointing start to 2018. Other big economies also had a tough start to the year, with growth in the US clocking in at 0.5 per cent sequentially from 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017. Economists had broadly forecast that growth in the eurozone would accelerate later in the year. However, second quarter data have also underwhelmed. In Germany, for instance, factory orders unexpectedly fell in April for the fourth month in a row, marking a dreary start to the second quarter.
 

[Pavel + 384]

I read that the EU are trying to raise contributions from 1% to 1.4% of a nation's GDP ! They make it sound like nothing, but 1 years contribution for next 6 years will be same as the previous 6 years contributions added together ... Rich nations are complaining.

[franco + 96]

Most of the EU members are only in the EU because they can be net receivers and not net payers. BBC made an excellent comment:  "The largest EU member states are not keen on paying more, but the EU say that this shift from 1% of GDP to 1.4% of GDP is just a modest rise that will fund projects such as young people's free rail card"