Portugal in pace with EU partners

The Portuguese economy grew at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in Q3 2017, according to a flash estimate released by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This represents a quarterly deceleration, with GDP having grown at 2.9 percent in the first-quarter and 3 percent in the second quarter. The INE attributed the change in pace to fewer exports. The European Union (EU) also announced GDP growth figures . Eurozone countries, as well as the EU as a whole, both grew at 2.5 percent year-on-year in Q3. Thus the Portuguese economy fell in line with its EU partners, having been growing at a quicker rate in previous quarters. Nevertheless, Portuguese GDP still grew faster in Q3 than those of Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy and Britain.