By Don Nico Forbes and Ed Frankl
The eurozone economy picked up more than expected in the second quarter, regaining some momentum despite uncertainty about the course and consequences of the conflict in the Middle East.
Gross domestic product in the 21-nation currency area rose 0.4% in the three months through June, the European Union's statistics agency said Thursday. This compares with zero growth in the first quarter, and came in higher than a consensus of economists polled by The Wall Street Journal, which expected 0.2% growth.
Despite continued supply-chain disruptions and higher energy prices, driven by the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran, economies across the eurozone have proved more resilient than many economists feared following the outbreak of the conflict earlier this year.
The energy crisis comes as the latest setback for the eurozone economy, which has struggled to gain momentum in recent years. Repeated economic shocks, from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Donald Trump's tariff war, have left economic sentiment and activity at historic lows.
