Germany and the United Kingdom drive stronger GDP growth in the European Union but, growth slows in Japan and the United States.

Gross domestic product (GDP) in the OECD area rose by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2010, the same rate as in the previous quarter. Real GDP grew by 1% in both the euro area and the European Union driven by record growth of 2.2% in Germany; its highest rate since reunification. GDP growth was 1.1% in the United Kingdom, up from 0.3% in the previous quarter; 0.6% in France, up from 0.2%; and 0.4% in Italy, unchanged from the previous quarter. By contrast, GDP growth in Japan and the United States slowed to 0.1% and 0.6% respectively, compared with 1.1% and 0.9% in the previous quarter.

Relative to a year earlier, GDP in the OECD area expanded by 2.8%, up from 2.4% in the previous quarter. Germany at 3.7% had the highest rate and Italy (1.1%) the lowest.