Economy
Industrial production up 1.1 pct in Jan, first consecutive rise since Aug 2007
The Greek Industrial Production Index (IPI) showed an increase of 1.1 percent for the second straight month in January, following a 0.5 percent rise in December, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Building activity nosedived for the fourth straight year, down 27.6 pct in 2013
Following a temporary jump by 36.2 percent in November, Greek building activity (as measured by the number of building permits) resumed a negative trend in December diving by 29.6 percent according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Greek recession slowed from revised 7 pct in 2012 to 3.9 pct last year
Greek non-seasonally-adjusted GDP contracted 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, which was 0.3 percentage points better than the flash estimate released a month ago indicating a 2.6 percent drop, according to provisional data published by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) on Tuesday.
Primary surplus at 2.1 bln in Feb, ahead of budget execution target
Greece’s budget execution showed a primary surplus of 2.1 billion euros to February, more than five times higher than the 487 million posted in the corresponding period last year, according to the preliminary data released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Tuesday.
General gov't cash surplus widened to 2 bln in January
The Greek general government (gg) cash surplus in January widened by 32.5 percent to 2 billion euros from 1.51 billion last year, according to the gg bulletin released by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.
Drop in CPI eased in Feb but Greece still firmly in deflation territory
The drop in Greece’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) slowed further in February to 1.1 percent from 1.5 percent in January, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Eurosystem funding for Greek banks eases by 2.18 bln in January
Following a brief rise in December, Greek banks’ Eurosystem funding resumed its downward trend in January easing by 2.18 billion euros, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG) monthly financial statement.
Bank of Greece publishes bank stress test results, which see capital needs at 6.4 bln
The Bank of Greece (BoG) released on Thursday the much anticipated report on Greek banks’ capital needs resulting from a follow-up stress test including the outcome of the new Blackrock loan diagnostic.
Greek jobless rate dips to 27.5 pct in Dec but inactive population growing
The seasonally adjusted jobless rate slightly eased to 27.5 percent in December from a downwards revised 27.6 percent the previous month, according to the Hellenic Statistical Agency (ELSTAT). The September rate of 27.8 percent now holds the new high.
Manufacturing PMI edges up for second month in a row
Greece’s Manufacturing PMI improved by 0.1 points for the fourth straight month in February reaching 51.3 points from 51.2 in January, according to Markit.