Macroeconomy
General gov't primary surplus shrinks to 419 mln in January
The Greek general government (gg) primary cash balance showed the surplus shrinking to 419 million euros in January 2015, much lower than the 1.88 billion euros posted in January 2014, according the gg bulletin published by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
Wages index rises at slower pace of 1.4 pct in Q4 2014
The seasonally adjusted Wages Index advanced, albeit at a slower pace, for the second consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2014, when it rose by 1.4 percent from 2.1 percent in Q3, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Trade deficit plunges by 21 pct in January as exports and imports fall
After climbing by 26.9 percent in December, Greece’s trade deficit fell 21 percent in January, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Greek CPI drops at slower rate of 2.2 pct in Feb for 24th straight month of deflation
The drop in the Greek consumer price index (CPI) decelerated to 2.2 percent in February from 2.8 percent in January, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Car sales in Greece up 26.8 pct in February
Τhe growth rate in the number of road motor vehicles (going into circulation for the first time) accelerated to 26.8 percent in February from 12.8 percent in January, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Accommodation and food services turnover jumps 22.2 pct in Q4 2014
The Turnover Index in Accommodation and Food Services rose at an accelerating pace of 22.2 percent in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2014 from 7.6 percent in Q3, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Greek unemployment rate ends 2014 at 26 pct, the first uptick since Sep 2013
The seasonally adjusted (SA) unemployment rate rose to 26 percent in December from an upward revised 25.9 percent in November, according to the Hellenic Statistical Agency (ELSTAT). This was the first uptick in the headline figure since September 2013.
Minor changes in Greek time deposit rates, higher movements in corporate loans
The interest rate on households’ new time deposits eased in January by just 2 basis points (bps), falling to 1.8 percent from 1.82 percent in December, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG).
Greek banks' Eurosystem funding jumps to 87.4 bln in Jan, ELA at 5.2 bln
Greek banks’ Eurosystem funding jumped by 31.44 billion euros month on month (MoM) to 87.48 billion at the end of January from 56.04 billion at the end of December, according to the Bank of Greece's (BoG) monthly financial statement published today.
A closer look at planned laws for unpaid taxes and home foreclosures
Two of the four bills that the government plans to table in Parliament this week relate to the settlement of unpaid tax and social security contributions as well as the protection of primary residencies.