EU GDP stable

GDP remained stable in both the 17-member euro zone and the 27-member European Union during the first quarter of 2012, compared with the previous quarter, according to estimates published Tuesday by Eurostat, the EU statistical office. In the fourth quarter of 2011, growth rates were minus 0.3 percent in both zones. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, GDP remained stable in the euro area and increased by 0.1 ercentin the EU27 in the first quarter of 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, GDP in the United States increased by 0.5 percent compared with the previous quarter, noted Eurostat.