Macroeconomy
Turnover in tourism grows by 10.9 pct in Q1
The turnover index in accommodation and food services remained positive for a seventh successive month in the first quarter (Q1) of 2018, growing by 10.9 percent after an upward revision of the fourth quarter (Q4) to 7.5 percent, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) figures showed on Thursday.
Trade deficit drops by 4.6 pct in April as export activity remains strong
Greece’s trade deficit fell by 4.6 percent in April, slowing from March’s contraction of 23.1 percent but continuing to fall, according to data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) released on Thursday.
Unemployment at 20.1 percent in March
Greece’s seasonally adjusted (SA) unemployment rate in March came to 20.1 percent, falling against the downward revised figure of 20.6 percent for February, Hellenic Statistical Authority’s (ELSTAT) data showed on Thursday.
Banks meet NPE targets in Q1 but mortgage reductions remain slow
Greek banks succeeded in meeting their non-performing exposure (NPE) reduction target in the first quarter (Q1) of 2018 according to the seventh quarterly report on operational targets for NPEs published by the Bank of Greece (BoG) on Wednesday afternoon.
Fiscal Council endorses fiscal and macro assumptions but warns of potential obstacles
The Greek Finance Ministry is due to table to Parliament on Friday the multi-bill that will wrap up its obligations for the conclusion of the final programme review, along with the updated Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy (MTFS) for the period between 2019 and 2022.
General govt primary cash surplus at 2.42 bln in April, arrears fall by 66 million
Greece’s general government (gg) primary cash surplus amounted to 2.42 billion in the first four months of 2018, down by 227 million euros compared to the same time last year, according to the Finance Ministry’s (MoF) monthly gg bulletin.
GDP up by 2.3 pct year-on-year in Q1 on strong export growth
Greece’s seasonally adjusted (SA) GDP grew by 0.8 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2018, after an upwardly revised increase of 0.2 percent in the previous quarter,ELSTAT's provisional estimates revealed on Monday.
Manufacturing PMI up to 54.2 in May, completing 12 months of rises
The Greek manufacturing sector’s recovery completed a full year of expansion in May, with Markit’s PMI settling at 54.2, up from the 52.9 in April.
Capital controls eased, allowing larger withdrawals and doubling limit on business transfers abroad
Greece’s Finance Ministry (MoF) announced on Thursday that the capital controls introduced in the summer of 2015 will be further relaxed from Monday as part of an effort to fully abolish them not long after the end of the programme.
Retail sales up by 1.2 pct in March on higher activity in dept stores, clothing
Greece’s retail sales index increased by 1.2 percent in March 2018, following a decline by 0.4 percent year-on-year in February, according to data published by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) on Thursday.