Europe June 2005

• France’s economy for the first quarter grew 0.2 percent from the previous quarter, according to preliminary figures.
  
  
• Germany’s GDP for the first quarter increased 1.5 percent from the previous quarter and 0.5 percent from the first quarter for 2004. A positive balance of cross-border property income, a jump of 1.3 percent in net national income, and a 0.8-percent increase in household disposable income contributed to the gain.
  
  
• The UK’s jobless rate for April fell to 4.7 percent, a 0.1 percent drop from both March 2005 and April 2004.