Investing.com – The euro zone economy grew a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in the fourth quarter, according to updated official data released on Thursday that confirmed the preliminary reading.
Eurostat said GDP growth in the single currency bloc was at 1.2% in the fourth quarter, down from 1.6% in the previous quarter and the slowest rate of growth in over three years.
The euro zone's economy has weakened over the last few months as the trade war with the U.S. has hit Chinese demand for European growth, and uncertainty over the outcome of the U.K.'s withdrawal from the EU has risen.
The European Commission slashed its growth forecast for the bloc’s economy Feb. 7, predicting growth would slow to 1.3% in 2019, down from a prior forecast of 1.9%.
German data released earlier Thursday showed GDP was flat in the fourth quarter of 2018, meaning that while Europe's economy didn't enter a technical recession, it hasn't actually grown since the middle of last year.