Steady as she goes, says eurozone poll

Economic growth in the eurozone will be slow and steady over the next two years, according to a poll of more than 50 analysts.

The research also found a subdued outlook for inflation,

which will give the European Central Bank little reason to shift rates from record lows.

The 16-nation bloc is forecast to grow between 0.3 and 0.5 per cent per quarter through to the end of 2012.

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But the figures mask a growing divergence amongst member countries, with Germany, Europe's largest economy, steaming ahead of smaller members like Ireland, and even Spain.

The bloc escaped from its deepest recession in post-war history in the third quarter of last year after the ECB pumped billions of euros into the economy through unlimited funding at money market operations and rock-bottom interest rates.