The latest data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development finds stronger GDP growth in Europe, but weakness in the United States and Japan.

The group said Wednesday that GDP in the OECD area rose by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2010, which is the same rate recorded in the previous quarter.

Real GDP grew by 1% in both the euro area and the European Union, it notes, driven by record growth of 2.2% in Germany, its highest rate since reunification.

GDP growth was also stronger in the United Kingdom at 1.1%, up from 0.3% in the previous quarter. Growth rose to 0.6% in France, up from 0.2%; and came in at 0.4% in Italy, unchanged from the previous quarter.

By contrast, GDP growth in Japan and the U.S. slowed to 0.1% and 0.6%, respectively, compared with 1.1% and 0.9% in the previous quarter.

IE