GREEK NEWS

The Greek unemployment rate edged up to 18.5 pct of the workforce in January, from 18.4 pct in December 2018, but was down from 20.6 pct in January 2018, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday. The statistics service, in a monthly report, said that the number of unemployed people totaled 872,678 in January, down 101,923…

The tax burden of Greek wage earners with two children declined in 2018, but the tax burden of single wage earners rose slightly, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in its Taxing Wages 2019 report released on Thursday. More specifically, the report said that a Greek family with one working member and…

Balance of travel services in 2018 posted a surplus of 13,895 million euros, the Bank of Greece (BoG) said in a report on Wednesday, based on final data, up 9.2% from a surplus of 12,725 million euros in 2017. The central bank attributed the development to the stronger increase in travel receipts (up 1,456 million…

The 30th Money Show of the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Thessaloniki will run at a central hotel in the city from April 12 to 14, with a focus on promoting innovation, new sectors and new markets. Chamber President Christos Sarantopoulos said that the event did not always provide enough revenue to cover expenses, but participation has…

Greek Economy & Development Ministry tabled a draft law in Parliament on Monday envisaging the transformation of the Hellenic Fund for Entrepreneurship and Development (ETEAN) into a Development Bank, to support investment programs and projects with environmental and development dimensions. The Bank’s strategic target will be to promote cyclical economy policies, deal with the consequences…

The Greek government will soon activate new financing tools and funds to support a circular economy in the country, vice-president of the government and Economy and Development Minister Yiannis Dragasakis said on Monday, addressing the 1st Circular Economy Forum in Athens. He noted that the government’s policy on the circular economy was based on four…

Demand for loans to non-financial corporations (NFCs) and households increased somewhat in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the fourth quarter of 2018, the Bank of Greece said in a report released on Tuesday, especially regarding long-term loans for large enterprises, due to increased financing needs for fixed investments and debt refinancing/restructuring. During the…

Real estate property transactions jumped 42 pct in 2018, totaling 26,700 compared with 18,800 in the previous year, offering strong signs of a revival in the domestic real estate market, the Independent Authority for Public Revenues (AADE) said in a report. Short-term property leases (Air-bnb type) and very low property prices, combined with the introduction…

Industrial production grew 2.3 pct in February compared with the same month last year, with manufacturing production up 3.1 pct in the month, Hellenic Statistical Authority said in a report released on Tuesday. The statistics service said the industrial production index fell 1.9 pct in February 2018 and attributed this year’s figure to an 8.9…

Bulgaria’s president Boyko Borisov expressed the certainty on Friday that Greece and Bulgaria will sign a joint venture agreement for natural gas pipelines by June, in statements made at the joint press conference of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia outside of Bucharest. Following the 7th quadrilateral meeting of the four countries, Borisov praised Serbia for…