GDP down by 0.2% and employment up by 0.1% in the euro area in World Economy News 06/06/2026 GDP growth in the euro area and the EU In the first quarter of 2026, seasonally adjusted GDP decreased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU, compared with the previous quarter, according to an estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2025, GDP had increased by 0.2% in both areas. GDP growth by Member State In the first quarter of 2026, Denmark (+1.9%) recorded the highest increase compared to the previous quarter, followed by Estonia and Malta (both +1.1%). Declines were recorded in Ireland (-12.1%), Lithuania (-0.3%), Sweden (-0.2%) and France (-0.1%). Contributions to GDP growth In the first quarter of 2026, the contribution to GDP growth to the previous quarter from: household final consumption expenditure was positive for both the euro area and the EU (+0.1 percentage points – pp for both), government final consumption expenditure was positive for both the euro area and the EU (+0.1 pp for both), gross fixed capital formation was negative for both the euro area and the EU (-0.1 pp for both), changes in inventories was negative for the euro area (-0.1 pp) and negligible for the EU, and exports less imports was negative for both the euro area (-0.3 pp) and the EU (-0.2 pp). Employment in the euro area and the EU Based on seasonally adjusted figures, Eurostat estimates that in the first quarter of 2026, 221.2 million people were employed in the EU, of which 176.3 million were in the euro area. The number of employed persons increased by 0.1% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU, compared with the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2025, employment had increased by 0.2% in both areas. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment increased by 0.5% in both the euro area and the EU in the first qu