Unemployment in Spain falls in March
The Corner | April 6, 2015 |Figures released today show that unemployment in Spain has fallen again, with Spanish consumers more confident than ever about the trajectory of the economy.
In Europe
Europe at a crossroads
April 6, 2015 | Guest post by Jean Tirole | Embroiled with the Greek crisis, European policymakers will soon have to step back and reflect on the broader question of the future of the Eurozone. Before calling for an exit or, on the contrary, for further integration, it is worth pondering over the consequences of each option.
Greece in the month ahead
The Corner | April 2, 2015 | Manos Giakoumis, chief analyst with Greek financial website Marcropolis, speaks to The Corner about the most pressing issues currently confronting the Greek government. He notes that the ECB squeeze on Greek banks issuance of T-bills could prove problematic in the month ahead, and says that the thorny issue of privatisations could continue to thwart negotiations with the country’s creditors.
Gains in competitiveness to continue in Spanish economy
The Corner | April 2, 2015 | La Caixa Research | Competitiveness gains in the Spanish economy are set to persist as wage increases continue to lag behind other euro zone countries.
“Eurogroup is dominated by Schäuble and he will not agree to any recovery measures”
BRUSSELS | April 1, 2015 | By Alexandre Mato | Former British MEP Stuart Holland, who was economic assistant to Jaques Delors when the French politician was the EC President, speaks out against German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble’s negative influence in attempting to derail the Juncker Plan.
Retail sales show improvement in Germany and Spain
The Corner | March 31, 2015 | German and Spanish retail sales have improved markedly compared with this time last year. Unemployment figures for the euro zone are expected to fall slightly, while results of EU inflation figures will be keenly monitored in the wake of the ECB’s sovereign bond purchasing programme, launched earlier this month.
Why Greece is asking for 1.2 bln back from the EFSF
ATHENS | March 30, 2015 | By Manos Giakoumis via MacroPolis | Following the Eurogroup decision on February 20, Greece returned 10.9 billion (European Financial Stability Fund) EFSF bonds at the end of the previous month. That transaction reduced accordingly the country’s debt and the debt to GDP ratio by more than 6 percentage points.
Consumer confidence points to brighter times in EMU
The Corner | March 30, 2015 | Consumer confidence in the EMU is set to hit its highest level in eight years, with economic sentiment improving across the currency block. In Spain, inflation figures are expected to remain in negative territory, but with the caveat that lower prices are having positive knock-on effects elsewhere in the economy.
The Confidence Witch
PARIS | March 29, 2015 | By Francesco Saraceno | The confidence fairy seems to have turned into a confidence witch. One more victim of the crisis. But this one will not be missed.
The Spanish economy is growing at cruising speed: 3% in now within touching distance
MADRID | March 27, 2015 | By Francisco López | The Spanish economy is currently growing at cruising speed and looks set to remain at its current altitude in the medium term, with the possibility that growth could exceed 3% this year.