BRUSSELS, June 8 Reuters The euro zone economy grew much faster in the first quarter of the year than in the previous three months despite the impact of the war in Ukraine, the European Union statistics office said on Wednesday, revising its earlier estimates sharply higher.

Euro zone employment growth was also revised upwards, to show a further acceleration in the JanuaryMarch period compared with the previous quarter.

In its final reading for the JanuaryMarch period, Eurostat said the gross domestic product GDP of the 19 countries sharing the euro rose 0.6 quarteronquarter, for a 5.4 yearonyear expansion.

The figures were significantly revised upward from a previous flash estimate released in midMay, when euro zone quarterly growth was estimated by Eurostat at 0.3 and the yearonyear expansion was expected at 5.1. 

Eurostat said its earlier estimates were based on a more limited data set and on preliminary estimates from EU governments now revised by national statistics offices.

The final data show that euro zone growth gained speed in the first quarter from a lacklustre final quarter of 2021, despite Russia39;s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted supply chains, hit confidence and caused energy prices to soar.

The negative impact of the war is however expected to be felt in the second quarter. Growth in the euro zone slowed significantly in the last quarter of 2021, to 0.2 from a 2.3 quarterly expansion in Q3, Eurostat39;s final data show.

The…