Macroeconomy
Travel balance almost doubles in April from last year's lockdown
Greece’s travel balance came to a surplus of 9.6 million euros in April from 4.9 million a year ago, when Greece was in its first lockdown, Bank of Greece (BoG) data has shown. This is equal to an increase of 97.5 percent year-on-year (YoY).
Industrial turnover jumps by 52.5 pct in April on base effects
Greece’s industrial turnover rose 52.5 percent from a year earlier in April, compared with a revised increase of 18.5 percent in March.
Current account shows deficit of 2.08 bln in April as trade continues overall rebound
Greece posted a current account (C/A) deficit of 2.08 billion euros in April compared to 1.46 billion euros in March, Bank of Greece (BoG) data showed on Friday.
Primary cash balance deficit at 8.23 bln in May
Greece’s central government recorded a primary cash balance deficit of 8.23 billion euros in the first five months of the year, according to figures released by the Bank of Greece.
PBO ups growth estimate to 3.6-4.8 pct, warns of complacency and inequality risks
Following the positive developments in the first quarter of the year, when the economy only shrank by 2.3 pct on an annual basis, in its latest quarterly report the Parliamentary Budget Office shifted from its previous baseline scenario of annual growth of 2.7 pct, to the positive range of growth of 3.6 to 4.8 pct in 2021.
Wages index up by 5.8 pct YoY in Q1 2021, rises by 1 pct QoQ
Greece’s seasonally adjusted (SA) Wages Index increased 5.8 percent year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021, following a rise of 4.5 percent in Q4, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) figures revealed on Wednesday.
Budget primary shows deficit of 8.17 bln in May, falling below target
The budget primary balance recorded a deficit of 8.17 billion euros in the first five months of 2021, compared with a deficit of 4.84 billion in the same period of 2020, the preliminary Finance Ministry (MoF) budget execution bulletin for May showed on Tuesday.
Car sales increase by 57.2 percent in May
Road motor vehicles going into circulation for the first time rose by 54.1 percent in May compared to a jump of 361 percent in April, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data showed on Friday.
Building permits jump by 42.9 pct in March, from year-earlier start to lockdown
Building permits increased by 42.9 percent year-on-year (YoY) in March after a decrease of 3.2 percent seen in February, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data released on Friday showed.
Unemployment edges down to 16.3 pct in March as inactives approach 3.5 mln
Greece’s seasonally adjusted (SA) unemployment rate dropped to 16.3 percent in March from a revised 16.6 percent in February, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority’s (ELSTAT) data released on Friday.