There was some good news at last for the euro-zone after it was announced that growth in the 16-country block was up 0.2% for the quarter (jan-mar) driven by the rebuilding of inventories.
The figure was 0.6% stronger than in the first quarter of 2009, the first expansion on an annual basis for six quarters, the European Union's Eurostat statistics office said in its second reading for the period.
Figures for the fourth quarter of 2009 were also revised up very slightly to show GDP grew 0.1% on the quarter and contracted 2.1% on the year.