World
Euro area: the economy in numbers
The economy grew 1.2% in Q2 2026; inflation was 3.2% in Aug 2026; the policy rate is 2.50%. Every reading tipsheet tracks for the euro area, with its history and what is usual for it. Readings the euro area does not publish openly are listed, not dropped.
Written for investors following the euro area from India.
Snapshot
The latest reading of each measure, the period it is for, the reading a year earlier and where today's sits in the economy's own history since 2000 (100 = the highest).
| Measure | Latest | Period | A year earlier | Percentile | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | +1.2% | Q2 2026 | +1.4 | 35 | OECD |
| Industrial production | −0.2% | Jul 2026 | +1.6 | 36 | OECD |
| Retail sales volume | +0.8% | Jul 2026 | +2.9 | 36 | OECD |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% | Aug 2026 | 6.3 | 9 | Eurostat |
| Consumer price inflation | 3.2% | Aug 2026 | 2.0 | 90 | BIS |
| Core inflation (ex food and energy) | 2.5% | Sep 2026 | 2.4 | 87 | Eurostat |
| Producer prices | +7.3% | Aug 2026 | −0.7 | 93 | Eurostat |
| Policy rate | 2.50% | 29 Sep | 2.00 | 71 | BIS |
| 10-year government bond yield | 4.03% | Sep 2026 | 3.23 | 69 | OECD |
| Money supply growth | +3.5% | Aug 2026 | +2.9 | 31 | ECB |
| Private credit and credit gap | −17.1 pp | Q1 2026 | −19.1 | 17 | BIS |
| Currency against the dollar, daily | −3.7% | 2 Oct | +5.8 | 29 | FRED (DEXUSEU) |
| Real effective exchange rate | 103.3 | Aug 2026 | 104.4 | 60 | BIS |
| Stock market return | +3.6% | 5 Oct | +28.2 | 33 | index history (returns only) |
| Government debt, % of GDP | 89% | Q1 2026 | 87 | 70 | BIS |
| Budget balance, % of GDP | −2.9% | 2025 | −3.1 | 46 | OECD |
| House prices, real | +2.6% | Q1 2026 | +3.1 | 45 | BIS |
Not published openly and on time, so not shown: exports, us$, inflation expectations, current account, trade balance.
Growth and jobs
Output, factories, shops, exports, the leading indicator and unemployment.
Real GDP growth: +1.2% in Q2 2026, down from +1.4 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Industrial production: −0.2% in Jul 2026, down from +1.6 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Retail sales volume: +0.8% in Jul 2026, down from +2.9 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Unemployment rate: 6.4% in Aug 2026, up from 6.3 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Prices
Consumer prices, the core measure without food and energy, producer prices and expected inflation.
Consumer price inflation: 3.2% in Aug 2026, up from 2.0 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Core inflation (ex food and energy): 2.5% in Sep 2026, up from 2.4 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Producer prices: +7.3% in Aug 2026, up from −0.7 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Interest rates and money
The central bank's rate, the government's borrowing cost, the central bank's balance sheet, money and credit.
Policy rate: 2.50% on 29 Sep, up from 2.00 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
10-year government bond yield: 4.03% in Sep 2026, up from 3.23 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Money supply growth: +3.5% in Aug 2026, up from +2.9 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Private credit and credit gap: −17.1 pp in Q1 2026, up from −19.1 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
The currency and the stock market
The currency's value in dollars over a year, its real trade-weighted value, and the stock market's one-year return.
Currency against the dollar, daily: −3.7% on 2 Oct, down from +5.8 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Real effective exchange rate: 103.3 in Aug 2026, down from 104.4 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Stock market return: +3.6% on 5 Oct, down from +28.2 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Trade, reserves and the government
What the economy earns from the world, its reserves, its government's debt and deficit, and house prices.
Government debt, % of GDP: 89% in Q1 2026, up from 87 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Budget balance, % of GDP: −2.9% on 2025, up from −3.1 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
House prices, real: +2.6% in Q1 2026, down from +3.1 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
The workings
The question
Data
Every chart has a table view, a CSV download and a link to its published JSON. Bundles are listed in data status.