Europe’s economy lost momentum in the first quarter as expansions slowed from France to the U.K., threatening to undermine the global growth the continent previously helped power.
Figures from across the region pointed to a softer trend in the early part of the year, and U.S. first-quarter data also showed activity weakened in the world’s largest economy. Still, U.S. annualized growth of 2.3 percent beat economists’ estimates that it would slow to 2 percent.
