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The Euro zone had a better Q1 than the US!

May 14, 2015

We all know how bad growth was in America for Q1 2015 but did anyone pay attention to Europe. It turns out that the Euro zone ended up with a better Q1 growth number over the US (although not by much). Maybe this whole Euro zone collapse is over blown… then again I’m not so sure on that.

This article below was posted on Quartz.com – Click here to read the post and many other great posts from their site.

For the first time in five years, the euro zone’s largest economies are all growing

Euro zone economists have been so beaten down by years of recession, stagnation, and turmoil that many have lost their sense of perspective. In normal times, quarterly growth of 0.4% in a major world economy would elicit a yawn, or perhaps a shrug.

But the euro zone’s first-quarter growth of 0.4% (pdf) is something to celebrate. The bloc’s four largest economies—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—all registered growth at the same time for the first time since 2010.

Yes, Germany’s 0.3% performance was a bit weaker than expected, but most believe this is a temporary blip. Much more encouraging was France, with 0.6% growth, its fastest rate in two years. And by its dismal standards, Italy’s 0.3% growth in the quarter was positively speedy. After all, it was only the second quarter in nearly four years that Italy has managed to eke out any economic growth at all.

Only three of the euro zone’s relative minnows—Estonia, Finland, and Greece—saw GDP shrink in the first quarter. And get this: In the first quarter, the euro zone grew faster than both the US and UK for the first time since 2011. This is unlikely to last, with the European Commission’s own forecast projecting 1.5% growth this year in the euro zone, well below the 3.1% and 2.6% growth predictions for the US and UK, respectively.

But let the euro zone have its moment. It needs this.

Discussion
12 Comments
    May 14, 2015 14:31 PM

    if the Greeks are buying automobiles with their cash withdraws…..that would help the German’s Benz, the Italian’s Fiat, and the French Centron, and the Spanish donkey cart business………..jmho

      May 14, 2015 14:18 PM

      Spain is amongst the top ten automobile producers in the world Jerry. Most of it is other country brands but they still cranked out a couple million cars and trucks last year for the likes of Volkswagen, Nissan, Daimler, Ford, Renault, Opel, Peugeot, Citroen and Iveco amongst others.

      Just saying man….its not all Donkey carts there.

        May 14, 2015 14:34 PM

        Thanks Bird….producing for others is always a good thing….what are the wage rates, and benefits.. ..compared to the others. Main brand , would be what? They may produce all the cars for the other countries , but, what is the home country brand name.
        bootswagan…….

          May 14, 2015 14:38 PM

          Just think , if Spain, had kept some of their silver, and not have lost most of it on the sea floor…they to could have a hot silver sports car brand…Like a Silverghost…..

            May 14, 2015 14:44 PM

            Have you seen the 2015 Silverghost? They call it Spanish Fly…..

            May 14, 2015 14:07 PM

            🙂

            May 14, 2015 14:13 PM

            BTW…are they remaking the Silverghost…ROLLS R. , I doubt the RR, would let their car be made in Spain…… 🙂

            May 14, 2015 14:40 PM

            Japan would probably be okay though!

        May 14, 2015 14:43 PM

        Had no idea, Bird. Thanks

    May 14, 2015 14:57 PM

    Frank, did you know that Spain’s economy (GDP) is 1.6 $trillion, almost as large as the whole of Russia? And rent-per-capita of $3400, $2000 less than Italy? And its industrial output “one of the largest” in the world?

    Spain is a Brand, as well as Italy and France.

      May 15, 2015 15:11 PM

      LET’S talk cars….what is the BRAND name…….NATSWL…………

    May 15, 2015 15:01 AM

    I meant almost half of the whole of Russia