Eurozone economy grows 0.3% in Q4 2015, unchanged vs Q3: Eurostat

Brussels: The eurozone economy grew 0.3 percent in the last three months of 2015, unchanged from the previous quarter and in line with analyst forecasts, official data showed Friday. 

Analysts said the 0.3 percent gain for the fourth quarter was "something of a relief" after recent weak data suggested the economy was faltering amid global market turmoil and increasing concerns over the outlook for China.

For all 2015, the 19-nation eurozone expanded 1.5 percent, the Eurostat statistics agency said.

The European Commission last week said it expected 2015 growth at 1.6 percent.

Among the major eurozone economies, Germany gained 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter, unchanged from the third, while France slowed to 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent.

Italian growth also slowed, to just 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent as Spain led the pack with another gain of 0.8 percent.

Outside the eurozone, Britain rose to 0.5 percent from 0.4 percent. 

For the full 28-nation European Union, the economy gained 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter, down from 0.4 percent in the third, and expanded 1.8 percent for the year.