Macroeconomy
Budget primary surplus of 2.68 bln in first quarter, but March trims outperformance
Greece’s budget primary surplus climbed to 2.68 billion in the first quarter of 2016 from 1.73 billion last year, the Finance Ministry (MoF) preliminary budget bulletin showed on Friday.
Eurosystem funding drops by another 2.8 bln to 101.4 bln in March
Greek banks’ Eurosystem funding fell for the ninth successive month in March at an accelerating pace of 2.78 billion euros after dropping by 1.86 billion in February, Bank of Greece's (BoG) monthly financial statement showed on Wednesday.
Greek tax wedge remained far above OECD average in 2015
The tax wedge in Greece remained well above the OECD average in 2015, according to the OECD Taxing Wages 2016 report released on Tuesday.
Building activity down 18.8 pct in January, permits hit new low
Greek building permits fell by 18.8 percent in January after rising by 5.1 percent in December, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) figures showed on Tuesday.
Net private sector hirings of 29,351 in March, highest in last 15 years
The employment balance showed net hirings of 29,351 in March 2016, up by 7,038 from last year, the Labour Ministry’s information system (Ergani) data displayed on Monday.
Car sales rebound 3.4 pct in March
The number of road motor vehicles (going into circulation for the first time) resumed an upward trend rising by 3.4 percent in March, after a short-lived fall by 17 percent in February, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) figures displayed on Friday.
Industrial production drops by 3 pct in February
Greece’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) fell by 3 percent in February after rising in the preceding three months, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data showed on Friday.
Notable drop of 1.5 pct in March CPI
Τhe Greek Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased at a markedly accelerating pace of 1.5 percent in March from 0.5 percent in February, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) figures showed on Friday.
General government primary cash surplus triples to 3 bln by February, arrears climb to 6.1 bln
Greece’s general government (gg) primary cash surplus tripled to 3 billion in the first two months of 2016 from 1 billion in the corresponding period last year, the Finance Ministry (MoF) gg bulletin showed on Friday.
Unemployment rate resumes upward trend to 24.4 pct in Jan
Greece’s seasonally adjusted (SA) unemployment rate edged up to 24.4 percent in January from 24.3 percent in December, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) labour force survey showed on Thursday.