FILE PHOTO - The European Union flag flies in the wind. (is associated with: «Eurozone GDP growth confirmed at 0.4%») Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
FILE PHOTO - The European Union flag flies in the wind. (is associated with: «Eurozone GDP growth confirmed at 0.4%») Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

The eurozone's economy expanded in the second quarter despite headwinds posed by the Middle East war, official data showed on Friday.

Gross domestic product registered 0.4% sequential growth in the second quarter after posting flat growth in the first quarter. Eurostat confirmed the preliminary estimates published on July 30.

On a yearly basis, economic growth doubled to 1%, as estimated, from 0.5% in the preceding period.

Data today showed that employment grew at a steady pace of 0.1% in the second quarter. Likewise, the annual increase in employment was stable at 0.5%.

The EU27 expanded at a pace of 0.5% sequentially in the second quarter, faster than the 0.1% increase a quarter ago. The annual GDP growth improved to 1.2% from 0.8%. The second quarter GDP figures matched estimates.

The statistical office is set to release revised data on September 7.