The euro-zone economy grew by 0.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006, faster than the previous three months, the European Union's statistics bureau Eurostat said on Tuesday.

Compared to the same period of 2005, the euro-zone gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 3.3 percent, according to the flash estimates released by Eurostat.

In the third quarter of last year, the seasonally adjusted GDP growth rate in the 12-nation bloc sharing the same currency euro was 0.5 percent quarter on quarter and 2.7 percent year on year.

Over the whole year 2006, the euro-zone GDP grew by 2.7 percent, much higher than the 1.4 percent registered in the previous year.

Among the euro-zone members whose data are available, Spain and Italy recorded the highest growth rate in the last three months of 2006, standing at 1.1 percent quarter on quarter, followed by Germany at 0.9 percent. France registered a GDP growth rate between 0.6 and 0.7 percent.

In the 25-nation EU, GDP rose by 0.9 percent against the previous three months in the fourth quarter of last year. The yearly growth rate was 3.4 percent. For the whole year of 2006, GDP grew by 2.9 percent in the EU, compared to 1.7 percent in 2005.

During the fourth quarter of 2006, GDP in the United States, EU's main economic partner, also increased by 0.9 percent compared to the previous quarter, after 0.5 percent in the third quarter. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2005, GDP grew by 3.4 percent. The whole year growth rate was 3.4 percent.

Source: Xinhua