GDP

The ECB Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) is a quarterly survey of expectations for the rates of inflation, real GDP growth and unemployment in the euro area for several horizons, together with a quantitative assessment of the uncertainty surrounding them. The participants are experts affiliated with financial or non-financial institutions based within the European Union. As of 2015 the results are reported in a standalone web publication on a quarterly basis (i.e. in February, May, August and November) on the dedicated  SPF webpage .

The Main aggregates in the national accounts (MNA dataset) include gross domestic product (GDP), value added by main economic activity, main expenditure components and aggregated income statistics. These data are collected and disseminated by the European Commission (Eurostat) and the national statistical authorities. The MNA dataset also includes additional indicators calculated by the ECB, such as implicit GDP deflators, contributions to growth, unit labour costs and its components (compensation per employee and labour productivity), as well as business investment. Data for the euro area, EU and the EU Member States are available.

The IDCM dataset covers publicly available selected national accounts data (gross domestic product and main aggregates, population and employment) as published by Eurostat, the IMF, the OECD and the UN.  It is the result of a regular data exchange set up by the International Data Cooperation (IDC) initiative under the Inter-Agency Group on Economic and Financial Statistics (IAG), which is chaired by the IMF. The aim is to develop a set of commonly shared principles and working arrangements for data cooperation that could be implemented by the participating international organisations, leading to the improved timeliness and accuracy of published data (link).

The AMECO database is compiled by the DG-ECFIN in the European Commission. It contains annual macro-economic time series submitted by the Member States and “filtered” by the Commission. These data are used in the forecast exercises done two times per year (Spring and Autumn).  It is the official source for some variables, especially those related to public finances.Since 2018 there is only a limited interim forecast concerning GDP growth and inflation and as coincidence the Winter forecast data will not be introduced in AMECO anymore.Current vintage: Autumn 2025; more information can be found on DG-ECFIN website:European Economic Forecast - Autumn 2025Economic forecastsAMECO database