Eurozone core inflation beats expectations, but the bloc is still in deflation March 17, 2015 It is hardly a time for unbridled celebration; the Eurozone remains in deflation at -0.3 per cent, but the core reading showed stronger than expected growth of 0.7 per cent year-on-year, compared to the 0.6 per cent analysts had been expecting. The data may lead to suggestions that Mario Draghi's quantitative easing (QE) programme is [...]
Greece accused of “wasting time” as latest proposals fail to satisfy Eurozone officials March 9, 2015 The Greek finance minister's latest outline of how he intends to secure funds from international creditors has failed to impress Eurozone officials. On Friday, Yanis Varoufakis sent a letter to ministers explaining seven planned measures, but Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem has since described the proposals as “far from complete”. He said that given the way [...]
The Eurozone’s quantitative easing programme is about to start – here’s what you need to know March 8, 2015 Tomorrow is the launch of the Eurozone's long-awaited quantitative easing programme, as the European Central Bank (ECB) starts buying back €1trn (£720bn) worth of bonds from the bloc's member states. The scheme, which aims to boost Europe's economy, was finalised on Thursday, with ECB President Mario Draghi citing the success of similar programmes launched by [...]
Eurozone: We are on the road to recovery March 5, 2015 The European Central Bank’s (ECB) landmark €1.1 trillion (£800bn) debt-buying programme will kick off on Sunday and boost Eurozone growth throughout 2015 and 2016, a confident Mario Draghi announced yesterday. ECB president Draghi and the bank’s forecasters are confident the programme – also known as quantitative easing (QE) – will be effective at rescuing the Eurozone [...]
Eurozone on the road to growth as service sector picks up pace March 4, 2015 THE EUROZONE’S dominant service sector is expanding at its fastest rate since July, new survey data shows. The service sector purchasing managers’ index (PMI) published yesterday by Markit climbed to a score of 53.7 for February from January’s 52.7. A score above 50 implies growth, with higher numbers marking faster growth. France’s PMI jumped to [...]
In charts: Eurozone service sector showing “clear signs of recovery” with France’s growth the fastest in 42 months March 4, 2015 Amid the fear and doubt surrounding the future of the Eurozone, business growth in the economic bloc has reached a seven-month high. The figures With any reading above 50 indicating growth, the Markit purchasing managers’ index score was 53.7 for February, which, although lower than the 53.9 given in a flash estimate last month, is [...]
Deflation threat grows as Eurozone prices fall again March 2, 2015 PRICES in the Eurozone fell for the third consecutive month in February, data showed yesterday, while unemployment continued its slow decline. Inflation was meant to come in at close to, or just below, two per cent – but in the 12 months to February it stayed below zero, at minus 0.3 per cent. That follows [...]
Eurozone consumer price index falls for third month in February March 2, 2015 Consumer prices fell across the Eurozone for the third month running in February, according to a flash estimate. However, the rate inched up on the previous month. Annual consumer price inflation was -0.3 per cent, mildly better than the -0.4 per cent economists had forecast, the European Union's statistics agency said. This follows a fall [...]
Eurozone manufacturing flat in February March 2, 2015 The Eurozone's manufacturing sector showed disappointing growth in February, figures out this morning have shown. Markit's Eurozone manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) hit 51 in February. That's down from the flash estimate of 51.1, and flat on the 51 it hit in January. Still, at least the region's manufacturers can take some solace in the [...]
Tumbling prices see Greece lead Eurozone into deeper deflation February 24, 2015 Deflation deepened to its most severe rate since 2009 across the euro area in January, with Greece recording the sharpest fall in prices. Annual inflation came in at minus 0.6 per cent across the bloc, according to figures published yesterday, down from 0.2 per cent in December. The rate has been dragged down by lower [...]