Eurozone economy beats expectations amid U.S. tariff turmoil
Posted on May 6, 2025 |
Eurozone GDP grew 0.4% in Q1 2025, beating analyst expectations of 0.25% and doubling the previous quarter’s growth of 0.2%.
The European Union (EU) economy expanded by 0.3% from January to March, slightly below its Q4 2024 growth of 0.4%.
Ireland led the surge with a sharp 3.2% quarterly GDP jump, partly due to front-loaded exports ahead of potential U.S. tariffs.
Spain posted strong growth at 0.6%, the highest among major eurozone economies in Q1 2025.
France slowed the region’s performance, with only 0.1% growth due to political unrest and looming austerity measures.
Germany's economy outperformed forecasts, growing 0.2% in Q1 despite ongoing structural and industrial challenges.
Despite Q1 resilience, the IMF downgraded its eurozone growth outlook for 2025 to 0.8%, citing continued U.S. trade tensions.
The eurozone still faces long-term headwinds from weak industrial output and high energy costs stemming from the 2022 Ukraine war.