Growth of a mere 0.2% was registered in the eurozone in the third quarter of 2014.
But even this was better than the prediction of 0.1% growth or the actual 0.1% growth of the second quarter.
In Portugal, there was 0.2% growth for the period, putting the country exactly at the region’s average, and indeed ahead of Germany’s 0.1% which did at least prevent Germany from sliding into a triple-dip recession.
And there was good reason to smile in Greece, which posted 0.7% growth, and Spain, which had 0.5%.
However, the overall data, published by Eurostat, point to a prolonged period of stagnation, with little impetus for job creation.
Italy’s economy shrank again by 0.1% after a 0.2% drop in the previous quarter, landing the country in recession.
Stefano Fassina, the former Italian finance minister, said “Titanic Europe” is heading for a shipwreck unless there is a change from austerity policies. He said Italy’s leaders should threaten an “orderly break-up” of the euro unless policies change.
France posted quarterly growth of 0.3%, the largest spurt in more than a year.
France's finance minister Michel Sapin said: "Beyond the jolts from one quarter to the next, activity has somewhat taken off but remains too weak to create the jobs our country needs."
Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: "High levels of unemployment continues to hold back consumer spending, while businesses in the core countries of France and Germany continue to cut back on investment in a sign of increased economic uncertainty and widespread pessimism about the outlook."
