Economy
General government bottom line continues to improve with moderate decrease in arrears
The Greek general government (gg) cash deficit to August fell by 60.7 percent to 3.87 billion with the gg cash primary surplus rising by 12.7 percent to 1.78 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). State arrears to the private sector retreated 2.0 percent month on month (mom) and 25.8 percent (2.29 billion) since the beginning of the year.
Greek Manufacturing PMI eased in September but remains close to a 44-month high
Greek Manufacturing PMI eased to 47.5 in September from a 44-month high of 48.7 in August, the first drop in the headline index over the last six months, according to Markit. Nevertheless, it is still at its second-highest level in the past three and a half years, while posted its highest quarterly average since the fourth quarter of 2009.
Sharper drop for retail sales in July points to lingering recession
Retail sales continued heading south for yet another month with the contraction rate accelerating to 14.2 percent in July from a revised 7.7 percent in June, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). A similar drop (14.0 percent) was also evident in retail volumes
Greece and troika agree 2013 primary surplus will be just 500 mln - here's why
Just as the Finance Ministry in Athens announced on Wednesday a final budget execution to August that blew away primary surplus targets by a margin of 5.36 billion, which is the equivalent of 2.9 percent of Greece's expected GDP, reports suggested that Yannis Stournaras agreed with the troika that the full year primary surplus would be in the region of 400 to 500 million, which is no more than 0.27 percent of GDP.
Credit contraction marginally decelerated to 3.9 pct in August
Credit contraction in the Greek market marginally decelerated to 3.9 percent year on year (yoy) in August from 4.0 percent in July with balances reaching 221.79 billion euros, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG).
Marginal deposits outflow of 212 million euros in August
Greek private sector deposits marginally eased 0.11 percent month on month (mom) in August with balances reaching 162.21 billion euros. Net flow remained slightly negative for the third consecutive month with outflows at 212 million in August from 161 million in July.
Trade deficit to July eased by 17.4 pct to 11.2 billion euros
The Trade deficit fell 3.4 percent year on year (yoy) to 1.54 billion euros in July, while the respective 7-month figure also retreated 17.4 percent yoy to 11.19 billion, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Greece on way to 2013 primary surplus as budget outperformed targets by 3.85bn euros to August
The budget execution to August showed revenues outperforming monthly targets by 400 million euros for the second consecutive month in August with the year to date shortfall further narrowing to 1.05 billion from its peak of 1.61 billion at the end of June, according to the final data released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Monday.
Greek C/A deficit to July narrowed to just 156 mln with boost from tourism
The July current account (C/A) balance showed a surplus of 2.73 billion euros from 510 million euros last year, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG). The significant increase mainly reflects a jump in the current transfers’ surplus to 1.86 billion, from just 100 million last year, owing to an inflow of 1.5 billion related to SMP income.
Greek industrialists decry conditions as another major firm moves its HQ abroad
Greece’s industrialists have cited the departure of yet another major firm from the country as evidence that the government is failing to create conditions for growth, despite the coalition claiming that the business environment is improving.