Economy
Direct taxes jump by 46 pct to help Sept. revenues beat target for third month in row
The budget execution to September showed revenues beating monthly targets by 339 million euros for the third straight month in September, with the year to date shortfall further narrowing to 710 million from its peak of 1.61 billion euros at the end of June, according to the final data released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
Disposable income plunged 9.3 pct in Q2, dragging consumption down with it
Greek household disposable income fell by 3.1 billion euros or 9.3 percent year on year (yoy) in the second quarter of 2013 and reached 30.1 billion, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). The latest data indicates an accelerating decline compared to the first quarter drop of -7.4 percent.
Industrial turnover and new orders indices rebound for second straight month
The Turnover Index in Industry increased 1.7 percent in August, while New Orders Index in Industry also improved by 2.7 percent, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). It is the second straight month both indices have rebounded concurrently, following a 3.7 percent and 1.6 percent respectively rise in July.
Greece's current account in surplus for the fourth consecutive month
The August current account (C/A) balance showed a surplus for the fourth consecutive month at 1.22 billion euros from 1.63 billion last year, according to Bank of Greece (BoG). The recorded drop year on year (yoy) mainly reflects an increase in the income and current transfers’ deficits by 295 million and 249 million respectively more than offsetting a rise in the services’ surplus by 259 million.
How Greek banks could cut 2014 financing gap with a bond rollover
In an interview with Naftemporiki daily on October 14, Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras identified two key sources that could reduce – if not eliminate – the emerging funding gap as of July 2014, currently estimated at 10.5 – 11.0 billion euros. Both solutions involve rolling over of Greek government bonds (GGBs) that mature in 2014.
Greece's 2014 fiscal gap suddenly appears bigger, much bigger
Just one week after the Greek Finance Ministry submitted to Parliament the draft budget for 2014 - which sees a primary surplus of 2.9 billion euros, or 1.6 percent of GDP – European Central Bank executive board member Joerg Asmussen appears to have put the economic plan in some doubt, while testing the limits of Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras’s positivity.
Cash deficit widens as Greece pays off state arrears
The central government net balance to September on a cash basis showed the deficit widening to 8.88 billion euros from 6.53 billion last year, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG). At the same time, the primary cash deficit also expanded to 3.32 billion from 543 million.
Greek banks less reliant on Eurosystem funding in September
Greek banks’ Eurosystem funding, the combined liquidity they have received from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Greece (BoG) Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) mechanism, dropped by another 1.4 billion euros in September, according to the BoG’s monthly financial statement.
Unemployment creeps up to 27.6 pct in July; little tourism boost evident
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July edged marginally higher to 27.6 percent from 27.5 percent in June, according to data released on Thursday by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Industrial production continues decline with 7.2 pct drop in August
The Industrial Production Index posted a drop of 7.2 percent in August with the figure for the first eight months of the year also retreating by 3.8 percent, according to ELSTAT. This means that except for April and June, all monthly readings so far in 2013 exhibit a single digit drop of between 4.5 and 7.7 percent.