European Union : GDP Flash

Highlights
Eurozone economic activity extended its recovery into last quarter with a provisional and slightly smaller than expected 0.4 percent increase in real GDP versus the previous period. The fourth quarter rise was unrevised at 0.3 percent and annual growth edged a tick firmer to 1.0 percent. In line with normal procedure, Eurostat provided no details of the latest GDP expenditure components.

Growth was hindered by a sharp slowdown in Germany where total output expanded a quarterly 0.3 percent following a 0.7 percent rise at the end of last year. However, France (0.6 percent after 0.0 percent) was surprisingly robust and Spain (0.9 percent after 0.7 percent) posted its strongest performance in more than seven years. Italy (0.3 percent after 0.0 percent) saw its first positive print since the third quarter of 2013. Amongst the smaller countries Cyprus (1.6 percent after minus 0.4 percent) finally pulled out of recession but Finland (minus 0.1 percent after minus 0.2 percent) saw a second successive quarter of falling output.

Early signals on the current quarter have pointed to little change in Eurozone economic momentum which will probably be seen as disappointing by policymakers and investors alike. Still, the ECB’s QE programme was only launched in March so much of its potential benefit has yet to be realised. That said, with the region’s inflation currently running at just a provisional 0.0 percent annual rate, Eurozone governments and the ECB will be hoping for a significantly stronger growth profile over the second half of the year.

Q2 not getting any help here…

United States : MBA Mortgage Applications

Still not spending that gas savings…
Q2 still not showing signs of life

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