Eurostat says the euro area’s economy grew only 0.4 percent in the third quarter of 2026, down from 0.6 percent in the second quarter, according to preliminary estimates released on Oct. 30.
The statistical office, which collects data for the European Union, said the drop shows a continuing slowdown in economic activity across the bloc.
In the past few years, many eurozone countries have been balancing growth with inflation, and the new figure suggests that the pace of production and spending is easing.
Because most businesses rely on consumer demand and investors look to GDP figures to gauge health, the decline could affect hiring, product launches, and stock markets.
Eurostat says its updates typically come a few weeks after data is compiled, so the 0.4 percent growth will be confirmed by the final report later this month.
