Eurozone growth rate makes surprise rally after gloomy forecasts

Spain and Italy fuel recovery but analysts say that boost will only be short-term

A rapidly expanding Spanish economy and a turnaround in recession-hit Italy increased the eurozone's growth rate to 0.4% in the first three months of the year, according to official estimates.

The 19-member currency bloc doubled the rate of expansion from the last three months of 2018, when GDP growth slowed to just 0.2% and the European Central Bank was forced to backpedal on plans to increase borrowing costs.

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