By Maria Martinez

Italy's economy grew in the second quarter on the back of a gradual easing of pandemic restrictions.

The eurozone's third-biggest economy grew 2.7% on quarter, following a revised figure of 0.2% growth in the first quarter, the Italian statistics agency Istat said Friday in a first estimate for the period. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a 1.3% expansion.

The Italian economy grew 17.3% on year in the second quarter, Istat said. This was more than the 15.6% expansion forecast by economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.

The Italian release follows the publication of the first estimates of second-quarter gross domestic product in France and Spain, which posted 0.9% and 2.8% growth, respectively.

Write to Maria Martinez at maria.martinez@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-30-21 0416ET