(RTTNews) - Friday, all major European economies are slated to release the preliminary gross domestic product estimates for the fourth quarter of 2008.

At 2.00am ET, the German statistical office is set to release a preliminary report for the fourth quarter GDP. The economy is expected to contract 1.8% sequentially in the fourth quarter compared to a 0.5% fall in the third quarter. On a yearly basis, GDP is forecast to drop 1.4%, reversing 0.8% annual growth in the prior quarter.

In the meantime, the Finnish CPI as well as GDP indicator reports are due. Finnish inflation is seen at 2.7% in January, slower than the 3.5% increase in December.

At 2.45am ET, a slew of reports are due from the French statistical office INSEE. French GDP is forecast to drop 1.2% sequentially in the fourth quarter compared to a 0.1% growth in the previous quarter. Non-farm employment is predicted to fall 0.5% in the fourth quarter and wage growth is seen at 0.4% on a sequential basis.

At 3.00am ET, the inflation data is due from Spain and Hungary. Spanish annual inflation is forecast to ease to 0.8% in January from 1.4% in December. Meanwhile, Hungarian inflation is seen at 3%, down from 3.5% in December. At the same time, Czech import and export prices and minutes of the MPC meeting held on February 5 are expected.

At 3.15am ET, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office is scheduled to release producer and import prices for January. Producer and import prices are expected to remain flat on a monthly basis, following a 0.7% fall in December.

Thereafter, Dutch GDP, retail trade and foreign trade balance are due from the Statistics Netherlands at 3.30am ET. The Dutch economy is expected to contract 1% sequentially in the fourth quarter.

At 4.00am ET, the Italian statistical office ISTAT is expected to issue the fourth quarter GDP data. Italian GDP is forecast to drop 1.3% quarter-on-quarter, after declining 0.5% in the third quarter.

At 5.00am ET, the Eurozone Flash GDP data is due from the Eurostat. Eurozone GDP is predicted to fall 1.3% sequentially compared to a 0.2% decrease in the third quarter.

At 8.00am ET, the Polish CPI and M3 money supply reports are due. In the meantime, the Hungarian central bank is set to issue minutes of the MPC meeting held on January 19.

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