This is the largest GDP decrease to be registered in the European Union in the third quarter of 2009, according to latest data from the EU statistical office "Eurostat". In the second quarter, Lithuania recorded the EU's steepest decrease in the GDP, according to Leta.

In the third quarter, Estonia's GDP shrank 15.6 percent, Lithuania registered a 14.2 percent contraction, Finland - 8.8 percent, Slovenia - 8.5 percent, Hungary - 7.9 percent, Ireland - 7.6 percent, and Romania - 7.1 percent. The EU's average GDP decreased 4.3 percent, including a 4 percent decrease in the eurozone.

Compared to the second quarter, Latvia's GDP reduced 4 percent in the third quarter, which was also the largest reduction in the EU. Estonia registered a 3 percent decrease in its GDP, and Hungary - 1.8 percent.

The largest increases in GDP were reported by Lithuania (6.1 percent), Luxembourg (4.2 percent) and Slovakia (1.6 percent).
The EU's average GDP in the third quarter increased 0.3 percent from the second quarter, whereas the euro area's GDP grew 0.4 percent.