(BRUSSELS) - Economic growth in the 15 countries sharing the euro slowed last year to 2.6 percent from 2.8 percent in 2006, the European Union's Eurostat data agency confirmed on Wednesday.

In its "second estimates", Eurostat said that growth in the fourth quarter of 2007 had slumped to 0.4 percent from 0.7 percent in the previous three months, amid a slight contraction in household spending.

On a 12-month basis, eurozone growth slowed to 2.2 percent in the final three months of 2007 after 2.7 percent in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, the 27-nation EU economy expanded 2.9 percent last year, down only slightly from 3.1 percent in 2006.

In the fourth quarter, the EU economy grew 0.5 percent and 2.5 percent over one year, Eurostat said.

Further details - Eurostat

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