Eurozone economy grew by a merger 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 from the third quarter, when it increased 0.4 percent, according to the latest data released by the statistical office of the European Union (EU) Eurostat.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in the 16 nations that share the euro fell by 2.1 percent compared with the same period of 2008.
Compared with the third quarter of 2009, corporate investment rate dropped by 0.8 percent in the euro area, while household spending remained flat. Exports was up by 1.7 percent, compared with a much stronger increase of 3.1 percent in the third quarter.
Across the 27-member EU, GDP in the fourth quarter of 2009 also rose by 0.1 percent compared with the third quarter, but fell by 2. 3 percent compared with the same period of 2008.
Germany's economic growth came to a standstill in the fourth quarter while France saw an increase of 0.6 percent. The largest increase was registered in Slovakia, which was 2.0 percent.
Analysts said that the slight rebound in the fourth quarter raised concerns that the economy will need more time to fully recover from the economic recession./.