At the same time, the consumer price index in the Eurozone increased by 1.8% during the same month (down from 2.2% in Aug.), falling below the European Central Bank's (ECB) target of 2%.
The annual inflation rate for the European Union was 2.4% in August 2024, down from 2.8% in July, while a year earlier, it stood at 5.9%.
The eurozone’s GDP grew by just 0.2% in the second quarter from the first
High levels of informal employment place Greece and Portugal at the top, reflecting deep-rooted challenges in labor regulation
Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.6% in the Eurozone and by 0.8% in the EU
The rate of increase for food prices was up by 4.9% in April 2024, compared to 4.8% in the previous month
The hikes in fuel prices haven’t only caused headaches for drivers, they have also affected gas station owners as consumers in Northern Greece opt to purchase cheaper gasoline from Bulgaria and Turkey
Lithuania (0.3%), Finland (0.7%), and Latvia (1%) recorded the lowest inflation in March, with Croatia (4.9%), Austria (4.2%) and Estonia (4.1) witnessing the highest rates
Despite the overall trend, Greece faces persistent challenges with rising food prices, as the food, alcohol and tobacco index totaled 7.1% during the month, on an annual basis, slightly lower than 7.6% in Dec 2023
Central banker underscored the significance of leveraging available European funds, particularly the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in strategic sectors of the economy
The greatest percentage increase was recorded in olive oil, despite Greece being the third-largest producer worldwide
The Capital Economics report predicts the Eurozone’s GDP will contract in the 4th quarter of 2024 with the bloc’s economy gradually experiencing a slight recovery as interest rates fall and real incomes rise
Across the European Union, annual inflation reached 3.4% in December 2023, rising from 3.1% in November marking a significant decrease from the 10.4% recorded one year earlier
The benchmark German 10-year bond, a reference point for the Eurozone, also saw a decline of 4 basis points to 1.931%, reaching its lowest level since March of the previous year.
Average interest rates for consumer loans, which fluctuated between 4.64% and 5.69% in early 2022, have climbed to 7.28% and 8.59%, according to the latest European Central Bank (ECB) figures
UniCredit projects Greece will achieve its inflation target of 2% in 2024, aligning with the European Central Bank's goal
Next month Greece will repay 5.3 billion euros ahead of schedule and hopes to continue the trend in 2024
Rise Attributed to Higher Food Prices
IMF Projects Global Inflation to Stand at 6.9 Percent in 2023