Spain's Economy Maintains Fast Growth in Q2

Spain's economy expanded by 1 percent in the second quarter compared with the previous three-month period, its best rate since before the economic crisis began in 2007.

It was Spain's eight consecutive quarterly growth figure.

The National Statistics Institute said Thursday the economy grew at a year-on-year rate of 3.1 percent in the second quarter.

Spain was battered by the global financial crisis and only emerged from a double-dip recession at the end of 2013. It still has a 22.4 percent unemployment rate, the second highest in the European Union after Greece.

The government says the economy will grow 3.3 percent this year and 3 percent in 2016.

The ruling conservative Popular Party hopes the recovery will stem its plunging popularity ratings in time for general elections later this year.