# Euro area and EU government deficits widen in second quarter

> The seasonally adjusted general government deficit reached 3.3% of GDP in the euro area and 3.5% in the EU in the second quarter of 2026, Eurostat reported on 21 October. The ratios were 3.2% and 3.1%, respectively, in the first quarter.

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- Publisher: Newsverum
- Section: Economy
- Published: 2026-10-21T14:02:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-21T14:02:44+00:00
- Event / data period: 2026-06
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Eurostat adjusts aggregate revenue and expenditure for seasonal patterns indirectly through country data. The deficit is derived from the adjusted revenue and expenditure totals, with calendar- and seasonally adjusted GDP used for the ratios.

The figures use the latest national estimates supplied by member states and are marked provisional for the first two quarters of 2026. The series covers quarterly general government non-financial accounts aligned with the European System of Accounts.

## Data

### Government deficit

Seasonally adjusted share of GDP, first and second quarters of 2026

Methodology: Seasonally adjusted euro area and EU ratios published by Eurostat; no additional calculation.

| Measure | Percent of GDP |
|---|---|
| Euro area, Q1 2026 | 3.2 |
| Euro area, Q2 2026 | 3.3 |
| EU, Q1 2026 | 3.1 |
| EU, Q2 2026 | 3.5 |

Sources: <https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-euro-indicators/w/2-21102026-cp> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/euro-area-government-deficit-rises-q2-2026/data/release-data?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/euro-area-government-deficit-rises-q2-2026/data/release-data?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [Eurostat](<https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-euro-indicators/w/2-21102026-cp>) (Source checked: 2026-10-21; Published: 2026-10-21)

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