FRANKFURT, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Recent data has been stronger than expected but due partly to temporary factors and the European Central Bank still expects the euro zone's economic recovery to be moderate and uneven, President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday.
"Recent economic data for the euro area have been stronger than expected, partly owing to temporary factors," Trichet told a news conference after the ECB kept its main interest rate on hold at 1.0 percent.
"Looking ahead, the recovery should proceed at a moderate pace with uncertainty still prevailing."
He said the most recent data and survey evidence have largely comfirmed expectations for a moderation of growth in the second half of the year.
The euro zone grew 1.0 percent in the second quarter, according to Eurostat's preliminary reading, although the breakdown by country points to a lopsided recovery.
Germany grew at its fastest rate since reunification in the second quarter and more than twice as fast as the euro zone average. Greece is still in recession while Portugal and Spain managed just a tenth of Germany's growth rate in Q2. (Reporting by Marc Jones; editing by Patrick Graham)