Macroeconomy
Drop in Greek CPI decelerated to 1.1 pct in September
Greece’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained on negative ground in September, easing by 1.1 percent compared to a 1.3-percent drop recorded in August. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 2.6 percent, while the average rate of CPI change over the trailing twelve months turned negative at -0.1 percent for the first time.
2014 draft budget: An ambitious fiscal consolidation targeting a primary surplus of 1.6 pct
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) tabled the 2014 draft budget to the Greek parliament on Monday with headline figures confirming recent press reports. As was broadly expected, 2014 will be another year of ambitious budget consolidation with a further cut in primary expenditure by 2.77 billion year on year (yoy) and a revenue increase of 2.55 billion yoy.
General government bottom line continues to improve with moderate decrease in arrears
The Greek general government (gg) cash deficit to August fell by 60.7 percent to 3.87 billion with the gg cash primary surplus rising by 12.7 percent to 1.78 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). State arrears to the private sector retreated 2.0 percent month on month (mom) and 25.8 percent (2.29 billion) since the beginning of the year.
Greek Manufacturing PMI eased in September but remains close to a 44-month high
Greek Manufacturing PMI eased to 47.5 in September from a 44-month high of 48.7 in August, the first drop in the headline index over the last six months, according to Markit. Nevertheless, it is still at its second-highest level in the past three and a half years, while posted its highest quarterly average since the fourth quarter of 2009.
Sharper drop for retail sales in July points to lingering recession
Retail sales continued heading south for yet another month with the contraction rate accelerating to 14.2 percent in July from a revised 7.7 percent in June, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). A similar drop (14.0 percent) was also evident in retail volumes
Credit contraction marginally decelerated to 3.9 pct in August
Credit contraction in the Greek market marginally decelerated to 3.9 percent year on year (yoy) in August from 4.0 percent in July with balances reaching 221.79 billion euros, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG).
Marginal deposits outflow of 212 million euros in August
Greek private sector deposits marginally eased 0.11 percent month on month (mom) in August with balances reaching 162.21 billion euros. Net flow remained slightly negative for the third consecutive month with outflows at 212 million in August from 161 million in July.
Trade deficit to July eased by 17.4 pct to 11.2 billion euros
The Trade deficit fell 3.4 percent year on year (yoy) to 1.54 billion euros in July, while the respective 7-month figure also retreated 17.4 percent yoy to 11.19 billion, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Greek C/A deficit to July narrowed to just 156 mln with boost from tourism
The July current account (C/A) balance showed a surplus of 2.73 billion euros from 510 million euros last year, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG). The significant increase mainly reflects a jump in the current transfers’ surplus to 1.86 billion, from just 100 million last year, owing to an inflow of 1.5 billion related to SMP income.
Greek unemployment rose to new high of 27.9 pct in June
Greek seasonally adjusted unemployment showed an increase of 0.3 percentage points (pp) month on month (mom) and 3.3pp year on year (yoy) to 27.9 percent in June, which is a new historic high, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) monthly labour force survey.