Economy
Ahead of IMF Spring Meetings, questions remain about conclusion of programme
Attention is due to turn to Washington this week in the hope that the discussions which take place at the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s Spring Meetings will provide some clarity on the conclusion of the Greek programme and what will follow.
Car sales up by 23.9 pct in March and by 33.3 pct in three-month period
Road motor vehicles going into circulation for the first time rose by 23.9 percent in March, remaining positive but declining against the 33.1 percent increase in February, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data showed on Friday.
CPI declines by 0.2 pct in March for year’s second negative reading
Greece’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) edged down by 0.2 percent in March after positive growth of 0.1 percent in February, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data showed on Friday.
Athens presents growth plan outline as lenders continue to differ on debt relief
A meeting of the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) on Thursday gave the Greek government a first opportunity to hear feedback on its growth strategy and get an idea of the lenders’ thoughts on debt relief.
Building activity up by 18 pct in Jan, permits dip below 1,000-mark
Building permits rose by 18 percent in January compared to a decrease of 6.7 percent in the previous month, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data released on Thursday showed.
Unemployment rate at 20.6 pct in Jan, inactive population rises
Greece’s seasonally adjusted (SA) unemployment rate came to 20.6 percent in January, edging slightly down from December’s figure of 20.8 percent, Hellenic Statistical Authority’s (ELSTAT) data showed on Thursday.
ECB report highlights sluggish Greek economic growth
The annual report of the European Central Bank (ECB) showed that Greece had the lowest rate of growth among Eurozone countries in 2017, with 1.4 percent growth compared to the average of 2.3 percent.
Greek hourly labour costs less than half of eurozone average
New figures from Eurostat have shown vast discrepancies between hourly labour costs across the European Union’s member states and the eurozone in general.
Prior actions and crucial meetings dominate agenda for rest of month
The pressure is back on the Greek government following the Easter break as it is thought that around 75 prior actions have to be completed in the coming weeks.
Industrial production falls by 2 pct in February
Greece’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) declined by 2 percent in February after a 1.2 percent fall in January, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data revealed on Thursday.