FRANKFURT (AFP) – German exports fell more sharply than expected in February, official data showed yesterday, the latest sign of weakness in Europe’s biggest economy. Exports totalled EUR132.9 billion (USD144 billion), a two-per-cent decline from the previous month, when shipments had risen strongly, federal statistics agency Destatis said. Analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet […]
PARIS (AFP) – French and Spanish annual inflation slowed in February, official data showed yesterday, fuel speculation over the European Central Bank’s (ECB) next interest rate move. Consumer prices rose 2.9 per cent in France compared to the same month last year after reaching 3.1 per cent in January, according to the INSEE statistics institute. […]
LONDON (AFP) – Britain’s public finances enjoyed a record surplus in January, official data showed yesterday, sparking talk of voter-friendly giveaways to ease recession blues in next month’s pre-election budget. Public sector net borrowing showed a surplus of GBP16.7 billion (USD21.1 billion) last month, the Official for National Statistics said in a statement. That was […]
FRANKFURT (AFP) – German industrial production fell for a seventh straight month in December, official data showed yesterday, capping a year of manufacturing weakness in Europe’s largest economy. Output plunged by 1.6 per cent month-on-month, federal statistics agency Destatis said, following a revised 0.2-per-cent fall in November. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had predicted a smaller […]
LONDON (AFP) – The British government’s year-to-date borrowing undershot forecasts despite a jump in October, official data showed yesterday, boosting finance minister Jeremy Hunt on the eve of a key budget update. Public sector net borrowing reached GBP98.3 billion in the seven months to October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. […]