The recently buoyant Spanish economy has begun to slow down.
The economy had been expanding for nine quarters in a row, making the eurozone’s fourth largest economy into one of its fastest growing.
In the third quarter of this year, growth continued but dipped to 0.8%. Previous quarters registered growth of 1%.
The release of the figures comes two months before the country goes to the polls in a general election. Prime Minister Rajoy is hoping that voters will be sufficiently thankful for the economic turnaround and re-elect him on 20 December.
More people were in work in the third quarter than at any time in the last four years. By the end of September unemployment had reduced to 21%.
But young people also have a vote and while unemployment has come down from its horrifying rate of 53%, it remains at a dangerous 46.7%.
The country’s economic boost has been helped by an increase in exports. Emerging economies are now doing into slowdown which means that Spanish exports to them are likely to decline.
