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News and Review of European Economic Zone

 

Draghi Responding to Criticism Over The policy Against Greece

Thursday, February 26th, 2015

 

President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi, ECB defends criticism for being tough on Greece over the country negotiations with its creditors. Draghi during a meeting with the European Parliament in Brussels, the ECB president explains the reason he said that attitude as a form of application of the rules of the loan. Earlier this month the ECB rejects offer of Greek government bonds as collateral for loans because it has very low ratings. ECB says ready to revoke its decision if Greece successfully completed its bailout program.

 

Draghi also wrote his objections to the relevant Euro zone finance ministers Greek reform proposals it deems deviate from the current bailout program commitments. Draghi added the importance of replacing the reform measures that do not qualify with a more appropriate or better quality so that Greece achieve the goals of its bailout program.

 

In his testimony before the European policy makers, Draghi reiterated the ECB stimulus program goal of 1 billion euros for the purchase of government bonds and public and private debt securities other. The program will begin in March was launched to stimulate the economy and raise inflation Euro zone so that it can reach the central bank's target is slightly below 2%. 19-nation bloc was at risk of deflation with long restrained inflation rate at a low level, which may further burden the consumer spending, adding pressure deterioration in earnings (earnings) companies, as well as wages.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Germany)

 

Unemployment in Germany fell more than forecast in February

Thursday, February 26th, 2015

 

The number of German unemployment fell two times more than analysts forecast in February after it returns its position as Europe's economic powerhouse.

 

The number of people out of work fell a seasonally 20,000 be 2.81 million people, said the Federal Labour Agency in Nuremberg on Thursday. Economists had predicted to decrease as much as 10,000, based on estimates of 27 economists in a Bloomberg survey. Adjustment for unemployment rate is still at 6.5%, it is the lowest level since records began in more than two decades ago.

 

German economic growth increased in the fourth quarter, led by domestic spending and exports, and the Bundesbank said last month that higher wages will increase consumption. Decline in energy prices, have contributed to the negative inflation rate in Germany and the euro area, which also will provide a stimulus to the next month.

 

Johannes Gareis, economist at Natixis in Frankfurt said that the German economy really are good and I do not think there will be a change in trend in the short term. The job market is very solid and unemployment is still very low for this in 2015.

 

The number of those who were not working down as many as 11,000 in western Germany and 8,000 people in eastern Germany, said the labor organization.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Spain)

 

Spanish Economy Grows 0.7% in Fourth Quarter 2014

Thursday, February 26th, 2015

 

The Spanish economy expanded at the fastest pace in seven years in the fourth quarter as stronger domestic spending has replaced the export sector into the main engine of growth.

 

Spain's GDP expanded by 0.7% in the final three months of last year, said the National Statistics Institute in Madrid on Thursday, the result confirms the initial reading on 30 January. Household consumption rose by 3.4% from the previous year and up 0.9% in the fourth quarterly. Export unchanged from the previous three-month period, although 4.7% higher than the fourth quarter of 2013.

 

Spain's economic growth was initially associated with international sales, but this time they were supported by domestic consumers. At the current rate of unemployment in the country is still one of the highest among the 19-nation bloc euro zone, the income in the household sector has increased due to the decline in oil prices.

 

"We expect internal demand, both consumption and private investment, will continue to be the engine of growth," said Antonio Garcia Pascual, chief economist at Barclays Plc's European region, which predicts the Spanish economy will grow 2.6% this year. "Exports should improve, as assisted by the weakening of the euro currency."

 

The Spanish economy grew 1.4% in 2014, closed with growth for the full year for the first time since 2007, INE said.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (France)

 

French Consumer Spending to Exceed Estimates in January

Friday, February 27th, 2015

 

French consumer spending is stronger than forecast in January, indicated that the country with the second largest economy in the euro zone started to get stronger footing after the weak economic growth over the past three years.

 

Consumer spending, which is the biggest factor of economic growth in France, rose by 0.6% in January from December, and 2.6% higher at an annual rate, the statistics agency Insee said Friday. It marked the third monthly increase in consumer spending streak.

 

On average rate, economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal estimated to decline at a rate of 0.4% monthly and rose 1.6% at an annual rate. Insee also revised the figure in December to rise 0.1% to 1.6%.

 

After grow no more than 0.4% since the year 2012, the French economy is showing signs of gaining momentum. The unemployment rate at the beginning of this week showed a sharp decrease in the monthly rate in the number of job seekers for a year, it makes officials to say the improvement in the confidence of the data can help increase in economic growth over the government estimates at the level of 1% this year.

 

"Without trust there is no growth; without growth there is no trust. This is a turn of events that I can," said French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to Develop a television interview, which refers to the unemployment rate.

 

The statistics bureau Insee said that consumer spending in January, supported by growth in the purchase of durable goods at a monthly rate, especially cars. Clothing sales also continued to rise began last October.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone

 

Euro Zone Economic Sentiment Improves in February

Friday, February 27th, 2015

 

Economic sentiment in the euro area rose for a second month in February as strong growth in Germany and the program of quantitative easing from the European Central Bank was able to exceed the anxiety about the future of Greece.

 

Executive and consumer confidence index rose to 102.1 from 101.4 in the previous month, reported by the European Commission in Brussels on Thursday. It was the highest level since July. Economists had expected to rise to a level of 102, according to the estimate of 26 economists in a Bloomberg survey.

 

The impasse between the Greek government and its creditors on the bailout program has given the threat to the failure of optimism in the region in the middle of the ECB is preparing to inject funds amounting to 1.1 trillion euros ($ 1.3 trillion) to support the growth and ward off deflation in the Euro area. The central bank will release the latest economic forecasts on March 5.

 

"The ECB quantitative easing program has been added to the tentative signs of recovery in the Euro area, aided also by the decline in oil prices and a weaker euro.

 

The level of industrial confidence rose to minus 4.7 from minus 4.8 in January, said the Commission. Sentiment in the retail trade and consumers rose to minus 6.7, while the confidence in the services sector fell and constricting sentiment has not changed, according to a report today.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Spain)

 

Consumer spending Spain Slump in February

Friday, February 27th, 2015

 

Spanish consumer prices slumped for a second month in February, back give other threats that will be faced by Mario Draghi in the middle of the European Central Bank prepares to release a quantitative easing.

 

Consumer prices fell by 1.2% from a year ago after a decline of 1.5% in January, which was the largest since 1997. The rate of inflation is likely to remain negative in Italy and Germany, economists said before the data released on Friday.

 

Declining oil prices dampen inflation around the world, which includes the US, where consumer prices posted the first annual decline in more than five years last month. In the plus side, the decline in consumer prices in February Spain is still below economists' estimates, and rising oil prices from a low level in these days, may indicate that the worst downturn in inflation may be exceeded.

 

Aline Schuiling, senior economist at ABN Amro Bank NV in Amsterdam say that we see a double negative in this time of environmental, such as weakening of inflation will result in a crisis, and the impact of falling oil prices. In looking ahead, we see inflation going up as we enter the final months of this year. "

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News and Review of European Economic Zone

 

Eurozone Unemployment Rate Dropped in January

Monday, March 2nd, 2015

 

Eurostat reported the unemployment rate in the euro zone amounted to 11.2% in January, down from 11.4% in December. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate will remain at 11.4%. Until January, the unemployment rate in the euro zone has declined in two consecutive months and are at their lowest level since April 2012.

 

Eurostat Estimates show 18 million people in the euro zone does not have a job, that number dropped as many as 140,000 people from December. More than 3 million unemployed have under 25 years of age, making the youth unemployment rate amounted to 22.9%.

 

Germany and Austria recorded the lowest unemployment rate below 5%, while the highest was 25% Greece and Spain, followed by 23%. Greece and Spain have youth unemployment of more than 50%

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (UK)

 

UK Manufacturing Activity Up in February

Monday, March 2nd, 2015

 

Markit / CIPS UK manufacturing activity index report in February at 54.1 up from 53.1 the previous month and better-than-estimated 53.5 ekeonom. However, the index for export levels recorded decreases, so that the reinforcement is more driven by domestic demand. Figures index in February was also the highest level in seven months.

 

Said the decline in exports as a result of the strengthening of the pound sterling against the euro around 7% since the beginning of this year. The eurozone is the UK's main export markets.

 

Markit senior economist Rob Dobson, said manufakur activity reports so far indicate a resurgence in the first quarter of this year, but he also said that the increase in activity manfaktur now more dependent on the production of consumer goods rather than investment in plant and measin, further demonstrating the company's expansion.

 

In the quarterly index of manufacturing activity showed an increase of about 0.5% at the beginning of this year, compared with 0.2% in the final quarter of 2014.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Germany)

 

Increased consumption, Retail Sales Germany Streaking

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015

 

Retail sales figures or German retail sales rose more than expected in January 2015. The high domestic consumption is the reason behind the increase in retail sales at the beginning of the year.

 

Retail sales in January rose 2.9% (adjusted for seasonal factors) compared to last month's report in December 2014. The ratio of increase exceeded analysts' estimates surveyed Wall Street Journal, which produce an estimated decrease of 0.3%. For an annual basis, retail sales increased 5.3% marking the fastest pace since June 2010 (6%).

 

German retail sales report itself is an economic indicator that is not default because usually undergo revision. However, recent data indicate that the German domestic economy is strong enough thanks to support the purchasing power of consumers. Research institute GfK last week forecast consumer confidence figures or consumer confidence rose from 9.3 to 9.7 in March.

 

Some categories that support the increase in retail sales include food, beverages and tobacco with an increase of 3.8% compared to January last year. While the non-food component rose 6.3% and sales via the Internet and electronic mail services rose 14%

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (UK)

 

UK Construction PMI Reaches Highest Level 4-Month

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015

 

Projected growth in the UK economy in 2015, the stronger the construction index rose more than expected. The rate of expansion of the UK construction sector bolted thanks to the rapid increase in the volume of new business and the improving economy. Increased activity of the housing sector, commercial, and civil engineering became the main driver of the increase in the index.

 

A survey of 170 managers conducted independent organaisasi Markit has recorded the most rapid rate of expansion in four months. UK construction PMI index in February shot to 60.1, away ekspekasi decreased to 59.0 compared to 59.1 in the previous month's level. This optimistic projection add encouraging report ahead of the UK general election in May, after on Monday UK Manufacturing PMI index also managed to break the estimation.

 

The construction sector had a major effect on the UK economy with a decrease in the output of the construction sector restrain the rate of growth of the UK in the final quarter of 2014. This latest report may be points strengthening the UK economy and the market will be looking forward to the next signal the UK economy through the service sector PMI data will be released Wednesday.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Greece)

 

Greece Will Face Debt Maturity

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015

 

Greece's debt problems back where the new Greek government will face a credit crunch week with the lack of financial assistance from neighboring countries in the near future, so as to provide a serious threat to the fragile economies.

 

Although Greece has secured an extension of the bailout program last week, but Athens is not given access to cash from the Euro zone and the IMF, due to disburse these funds need the approval of the revised budget austerity programs and economic reforms and turn it into law.

 

However, this process will likely take several months to negotiate, whereas Greece has had to pay the IMF debt of $ 1.7 billion in March, with the first installment payment of 300 million euros maturing Friday.

 

This situation will pose a dilemma for the government, whether to drain the country's foreign exchange reserves and further delaying payment on the supplier is a tactic used by the previous Greek government.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone

 

Eurozone Retail Sales Rise in January

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

 

Retail sales in the euro zone rose four consecutive months in January, and are at the highest rate of increase over the past nine years. Eurostat reported retail sales jumped 1.1% in January from December 2014, well above the 0.2% rise estimated by economists. The statistics bureau also revised the euro zone retail sales rose in December to 0.4% from 0.3% the previous release.

 

The continued rise in retail sales can describe the increasing purchasing power of consumers due to the falling price of oil. The increase in retail sales in the last four months was able to allay fears the euro zone will enter a period of prolonged deflation. Eurostat on Monday reported a deflationary pressures in February slowed to 0.3% from 0.5% in January.

 

Although the data is fairly slick, but surveys purchasing managers index showed businesses cut back the price of a challenge that must be faced by the European Central Bank will launch Quantitative easing program this month

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (UK)

 

Sterling Slips Post Data Services Sector Activity

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

 

The pound sterling weakened against the dollar after the UK service sector activity data released lower than expected. Data put pressure on the British currency are currently overshadowed by political uncertainty ahead of elections in May.

 

In the last two days of data on manufacturing activity and construction England released better than expected but failed to lift the performance of sterling. Markit report service sector activity index slowed to 56.7 in February from 57.2 the previous month, at the same time break the expectations of a rise to 57.6 by economists.

 

Market participants currently pending monetary policy of the Bank of England tomorrow, the last policy meeting minutes said officials began talking about when it will raise interest rates.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Germany)

 

German Factory Orders Decline In January

Thursday, March 5th, 2015

 

German factory orders in January dropped dramatically as a result of sufficiently high orders in the previous month, and decreased with large quantity orders. This decline marks the potential for recovery of the country's weak point euro zone's largest economy.

 

Orders, adjusted for seasonal fluctuations and inflation, fell 3.9% compared to an upwardly revised increase of 4.44% in December. Destatis also reported that domestic orders fell 2.5% and export orders were down 4.8% 9% drop in orders dragged the Euro zone. Orders for investment products such as plant, machinery, and equipment, fell 4.2% worse than the 0.6% drop in orders for consumer goods.

 

The German economy grew in the fourth quarter to take advantage of low oil prices increase domestic spending. Exporters also enjoy the weakening Euro so as to make products cheaper for foreign consumers. The launch program of quantitative easing in the month the European Central Bank is also seen to be able to add impetus to growth in Germany

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (UK)

 

Bank of England Hold Interest Rates 0.50%

Thursday, March 5th, 2015

 

According to estimates by economists and market participants, the Bank of England has not changed the monetary policy to keep interest rates at a record low of 0.50% and the total program £ 375 billion quantitative easing. The interest rate has been arrested in the past six years, or since March 2009. Minutes of the monetary policy meeting today will be released on 18 March.

 

Previous two BOE officials Martin Weale and Kristin Forbes said interest rates may rise in the near future if inflation rose sharply from current levels. Other BOE members, Ian McCafferty said he would observe salary growth data in the next few months before deciding to continue voting to raise interest rates. McCafferty and Weale reportedly chose to raise interest rates between August and December of this year.

 

To date, the majority of the members of the policy-makers choose to wait and see the extent to which inflation will decline. Last week, Bank of England's inflation projection will come down 0% before returning rise in the coming months. BOE Governor, Mark Carney, said inflation will reach the target of 2% within 2 years.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone

 

ECB Hold Interest Rates Reference 0.05%

Thursday, March 5th, 2015

 

European Central Bank monetary policy in today's meeting, as well as preparing to launch a program quantitaive easing to spur the economy and raise inflation. President of the ECB, Mario Draghi, will hold a press conference at 20:30 pm, and is expected to provide details of the implementation of the QE.

 

The ECB kept its benchmark rate at 0.05%, and -0.20% deposit rate which means that banks charge if deposit funds at the ECB. ECB policy meeting earlier said it would buy government bonds on a large scale or so-called QE worth € 60 billion from March 2015 to September 2016. The ECB has yet to know exactly when the QE started.

 

Analysts also expect the ECB will raise economic forecast the euro zone. The projection will be the first after the ECB announced QE last January, and will be the beginning of an idea how big the impact of QE to stimulate the economy and raise inflation from the standpoint of the ECB

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Germany)

 

German Industrial Production Released Positive

Friday, March 6th, 2015

 

Results of the German industrial production rose in January 2015. Factors winter weather is not too extreme participate impact on activity in the construction sector of the country's largest economy.

 

Report German industrial production rose 0.6% over the period December 2014. Official figures that exceeded analysts' expectations of Wall Street Journal estimates that industrial production increased by 0.5% per month. The German government also did significant revisions to the data last December, from 1% to 0.1%

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Switzerland)

 

Foreign Currency Reserves SNB Back Up in February

Friday, March 6th, 2015

 

Swiss foreign currency reserves back touched a new record high last month, indicating that the central bank continues to buy foreign currency in order to limit the strengthening of the Swiss franc exchange rate despite the release limits against the euro in mid-January. Swiss National Bank (SNB) has said it has a foreign currency worth 509 250 billion Swiss francs (US $ 523.17 billion) at the end of February, compared to the revision become 498 463 billion francs in the previous month. SNB took off limits to 1:20 franc against the euro on January 15 last, he said the policy would cost $ 100 billion francs only to be maintained in January.

 

The weakening of the euro after the ECB said it would begin quantitative easing program Monday next week will re-open speculation of intervention by the SNB in ​​order to limit the strengthening of the franc. SNB on Friday warned that the lifting limit franc exchange rate and volatility in the market may threaten the performance of the economy this year, disrupt payments to the federal and regional governments. Analysts warned that the Swiss economy could fall into recession as a result of the strengthening of the franc.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone

 

Yield Bond Euro Zone Drops Into Negative Territory

Friday, March 6th, 2015

 

The Fall yields a number of euro zone member countries indicates that investors ultimately lend to countries badly affected member euro zone crisis, and also gives a negative catalyst for EURUSD touched parity pairing.

 

Bond yields as Spain, Italy, Portugal fell to a record low on Friday, while the yield on Irish bonds has touched the level of zero percent, while Spanish yields at 0:08%. The Fall yield reflects the increase in bond prices showed high demand.

 

While in the forex market, the euro fell to its lowest level of new 11-year high against the US dollar, respond to ECB President Mario Draghi's comments that demonstrate commitment bond purchase program worth $ 1.1 trillion, which will begin next Monday.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone

 

The ECB began QE March 9, Raise Economic Growth Projections

Friday, March 6th, 2015

 

The European Central Bank will start quantitaive easing program on 9th March, by buying government bonds and private assets, with a total of € 60 billion per month. The European Central Bank also raised its forecast for economic growth in the euro zone, while this year's inflation projections derived.

 

The ECB raised its forecast for gross domestic product this year to 1.5% from the previous projection of 1.0%, which was released last December. GDP in 2016 increased to 1.9% from the previous projection of 1.5%.

 

Inflation this year is expected to reach 0% lower than the previous estimate of 0.7%. 2016, inflation is expected to rise to 1.5% higher than the previous projection of 1.3%, and will reach 1.8% in 2017

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Germany)

 

German Trade Surplus Down In January

Monday, March 9th, 2015

 

The decline in German exports make surplus largest economy in the Euro zone in January reported to be lower than forecast. German exports fell 2.1% in January, erode its trade surplus with the level of imports were only down 0.3% in January. Overall the difference between imports and exports of Germany reportedly fell 0.6% to 19.7 billion euros in January, lower than expected surplus of 20.4 billion euros and the previous period with a surplus of 21.6 billion euros which was revised down from the previous report of 21.8 billion Euro.

 

Today the European Central Bank will start its quantitative easing program by 60 billion euros per month as one of the 19-block effort to distance the country from the threat of deflation. Meanwhile, Greece back into the spotlight of financial markets over 19 meeting Euro zone finance ministers will be held today to discuss the Greek reform proposals in an attempt to get further bailout funds before April

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (France)

 

Bank of France Crop Projections First Quarter GDP

Monday, March 9th, 2015

 

French economy will grow by 0.3% in the first quarter, according to the Bank of France on his latest business survey on Monday, revised down from a previous forecast at 0.4%. The central bank's business sentiment indicator showed a slight decline in February to 96 from 98 in January, while the service sector sentiment rose to 92 from 91. "Business leaders predict a sharper rise in industrial activity in March," according to the central bank, adding that they also estimate the strength of the services sector aktivita this month.

 

The government of President Francois Hollande expects a growth rate of 1.0% this year after growing by 0.4% last year. In his commentary this month, Hollande again voiced optimism that a gradual recovery is running.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (UK)

 

BRC: British Retail Sales Stable in February

Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

 

Retail spending in the UK making shops stay busy in the normally quiet month is February, indicating a decrease in the rate of inflation has pushed the consumer sector, according to industry survey on Tuesday. The British Retail Consortium said retail spending rose by 1.7% last month compared to the previous year, up slightly from the increase of 1.6% in January. In February 2014, when bad weather adds to the slowdown in the rate of spending, sales rose 0.7% sebanayk. The survey amplifies the signal that British consumers feel more optimistic after the inflation rate slowed to just 0.3% in January and earnings rose faster last year.

 

Helen Dickinson, director general of the BRC, said that so far in 2015 is positive for retailers and consumers and not showing signs of a change in direction. BRC retail spending, which in addition to the new stores and further demonstrate how the store sales reports to shareholders, rose by 0.2% in the annual rate, the same as in January. Economists forecast growth rate of 0.4%.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (Greece)

 

Troika Will Financial Audit Greece

Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

 

President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi, warned of the critical situation faced by Greece and advise Greece to allow a representative of the euro area back to Athens if one wanted to get a grant. Draghi told the Greek Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis, during a meeting Monday in Brussels, the Greek government finances need to be examined to assess the financial deficit. This suggestion received support representative from the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 

Greece accepted the suggestion and open up opportunities for the representation of the European Commission, the ECB, and the IMF begin its review on Wednesday (11/03), said Jeroen Dijsselbloem who chaired a meeting of euro zone finance ministers yesterday. Greece may face a crisis of cash within one to three weeks and without access to financial books Greece, difficult to assess deadline Greek default.

 

Greece will have difficulty getting further bailout of the aid program worth 240 billion euros to its creditors believe Greece will commit to all the necessary economic reforms, according the requirements of the program.

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News and Review of European Economic Zone (France)

 

French Industrial Production Up in January

Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

 

Data from INSEE showed industrial production rose in France back in January after surging at the end of 2014, be a good start to the second largest economy in the European. After streaking 1.4% in December 2014, industrial production rose 0.4% reported back in January, breaking the 0.4% decline estimated by economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal he.

 

If the French industrial production recorded an increase in two consecutive months, the Italian industrial production even recorded the first decline in three months. Istat reported the Italian industrial production fell 0.7% in January, breaking the 0.2% rise expected by economists. In the previous two months of industrial production are reported each rose 0.3% and 0.4%

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