German Import Prices Continue To Fall

Germany's import prices decreased for the ninth successive month in September, and the rate of fall matched economists' forecast, latest data showed Thursday.

The import price index decreased 2.8 percent in September from the same month of last year, marking the ninth fall in a row, the Federal Statistical Office said. The outcome matched economists' forecast. In August, prices had declined 3.4 percent.

Contributing to the decline of the headline index, energy prices fell 6.3 percent annually, and metal costs declined 9.7 percent.

Import prices, excluding petroleum and petroleum products, were lower by 2.3 percent than in September 2012, data showed.

Sequentially, import prices stayed unchanged in September, after rising 0.1 percent in August. Expectations were for a 0.1 percent rise in September.

The statistical office further noted that Germany's export prices decreased 1 percent year-on-year in September, as they did in August. On a month-on-month basis, export prices stayed flat for the second straight month in September.

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2013-10-31 12:42

Swiss Sept. Trade Surplus Exceeds Forecast

Switzerland's trade surplus beat expectations in September, the latest figures from the Federal Customs Administrations showed Tuesday.

The trade surplus for September was CHF 2.5 billion compared with an expected CHF 2 billion surplus. In the July-September period, the trade surplus was CHF 6.9 billion.

Exports grew 2.2 percent year-on-year in nominal terms to CHF 16.9 billion in September. Meanwhile, imports declined 2.6 percent to CHF 14.4 billion. In real terms, exports grew 5.3 percent annually and imports fell 0.9 percent.

In the third quarter, exports grew 0.7 percent year-on-year in real terms, while imports fell 2.2 percent.

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2013-10-22 12:42

Portugal June-August Trade Deficit Widens

Portugal's merchandise trade shortfall widened in the June-August period as imports increased at a faster pace than exports, data released by the National Statistics Institute showed Wednesday.

The balance of trade for the three months ended August was a deficit of EUR2.41 billion, bigger than the EUR2.24 billion shortfall recorded a year earlier.

Merchandise exports increased 2.3 percent annually to EUR11.63 billion at the end of August. Shipments to the European Union (EU) countries and the Non-EU market grew 2.1 percent and 2.8 percent respectively.

Imports grew 3.1 percent from last year to EUR14.04 billion in the August quarter. Purchases from the EU climbed 4.4 percent year-on-year, and those from the external market stayed unchanged.

In the month of August, Portugal's exports stayed unchanged from the preceding month, while imports decreased by 3.5 percent, data showed.

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2013-10-09 17:42

Latvia's Industrial Production Drops 3.5% In August

Latvia's industrial production decreased in August from last year, figures released by the Central Statistical Bureau showed Friday.

Industrial production, on a calendar-adjusted basis, decreased 3.5 percent year-on-year in August, reversing the previous month's 2.1 percent increase. In June, production had decreased by 0.4 percent.

The downturn in overall output was driven mainly by a 2.5 percent fall in manufacturing production, and a 7.9 percent decrease in the production of electricity and gas supply. Meanwhile, mining and quarrying production increased by 0.6 percent.

Sequentially, industrial production decreased a seasonally adjusted 2 percent in August, after gaining 1.7 percent in July, the agency said.

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2013-10-04 17:00

Spain's Trade Shortfall Narrows Sharply In July

Spain's merchandise trade deficit declined significantly in July, supported by strong growth in exports, data released by the Commerce Ministry showed Friday.

Net trade for the month resulted in a deficit of EUR786.7 million, which was lower by 53.5 percent than in the same month of 2012.

Export of goods increased 1.3 percent annually to EUR19.86 billion during the month, and reached the highest level since records began. Shipments to the non-Eurozone destinations advanced 8.2 percent, while dispatches to the Eurozone decreased by 4.7 percent.

Meanwhile, the value of imports decreased by 3 percent year-on-year to EUR20.65 billion in July, the agency said.

During the first seven months of 2013, exports climbed 7 percent from the same period of last year, while imports dropped 3.1 percent. The outcome was an year-on-year fall in trade deficit by 67.5 percent to EUR6.61 billion.

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2013-09-20 17:42

German Industrial Production Rebound Signals Faster Recovery

Germany's industrial production recovered at a faster-than-expected pace in June, suggesting that the sector has likely emerged from a recent phase of lackluster activity. The strong pick up shows that the economic recovery that started in the beginning of the year has gathered momentum.

Production at German factories increased a seasonally adjusted 2.4 percent month-on-month in June, more than offsetting the previous month's revised 0.8 percent decrease, a report from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology showed Wednesday. Economists had forecast output to rise 0.3 percent, following May's originally recorded 1 percent fall.

Among industrial sub-sectors, output of capital goods climbed 4.1 percent and consumer goods production advanced 1.1 percent, contributing significantly to the overall upturn in activity. The intermediate goods sector recorded a 0.6 percent gain.

Production, excluding the construction sector, rose 2.2 percent sequentially during the month. Construction output rose 1.6 percent, and energy production was higher by 5 percent than in May.

Compared to June 2012, industrial production advanced a working-day adjusted 2 percent, after recording a 1.2 percent decrease in May, which was revised down from a 1 percent contraction. Production was forecast to fall 0.3 percent year-on-year.

During the May-June period, industrial output moved up 1.3 percent from preceding two months ended April. There was a 0.5 percent year-on-year growth in output during the period.

According to the report, that sentiment indicators for the German industrial sector suggest that the current positive trend in production will continue in the coming months.

Today's outcome corroborates the government data, which came out yesterday, showing that new orders in the German manufacturing sector grew at the fastest pace in eight months in June, driven mainly by strong demand for big-ticket items.

In a sign that German factory sector has overcome its weakness, a recent survey compiled by Markit Economics showed that the manufacturing purchasing managers' index climbed to an 18-month high in July, supported by rising volumes of new work and higher production levels.

Reinforcing the upbeat outlook for the German industrial sector, survey data released by the Ifo Institute last month revealed that confidence among entrepreneurs rose for a third consecutive month in July.

The recent improvement in Germany's job market is also reflective of the upturn in industrial activity. In June, a statement from the Federal labor agency showed that the number of unemployed in the country declined for a second consecutive month in July.

The Bundesbank last month said it expects Germany's economic growth to weaken in the third quarter, following the second quarter's recovery. Earlier, the bank had lowered its growth outlook for this year to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent. The economy is seen growing 1.5 percent in 2014.

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2013-08-07 17:42

Swiss March Producer And Import Prices Fall As Expected

Switzerland's producer and imports prices decreased from last year in March, and the rate of fall matched economists' forecast, latest data from the statistical office showed Tuesday.

The producer and import price index dropped 0.3 percent year-on-year in March, in line with economists' expectations.

The producer price index, which shows the price development of domestically produced products, increased 0.3 percent year-on-year in March, while the import price index dropped by 1.5 percent.

Compared to February, the producer and import price index stayed unchanged during the month. This was in line with economists expectations.

The producer price index was unchanged month-on-month, while the import price index edged down 0.1 percent, data showed.

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2013-04-16 12:42

Czech Trade Surplus Falls More Than Expected In December

The Czech Republic recorded a faster-than expected fall in merchandise trade surplus in December, preliminary data released by the Czech Statistical Office showed Wednesday. news.instaforex.com »

2013-02-06 12:42

Spanish Unemployment Rate Hits Record High Of 26.02%

Spain's jobless rate increased to a record high in the fourth quarter, leaving nearly six million people unemployed as the government engaged in sharp spending cuts after the economy plunged deeper into recession, latest data showed on Thursday.

The unemployment rate increased to 26.02 percent in the fourth quarter from 25.01 percent in the preceding three months, statistical office INE said. The rate was almost in line with the consensus forecast for 26 percent.

The latest figure is the highest in the history of modern Spain, after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. The current government led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy came to power late 2011.

The jobless rate among those under the age of 25 years also jumped to a record 55.13 percent in the fourth quarter from 52.34 percent in the previous three months. A year ago, the figure was 48.56 percent.

There were around 5.97 million unemployed persons in the country at the end of 2012, higher by 187,300 compared to the third quarter. From the fourth quarter of 2011, the number of jobless persons increased by 13.12 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of employed persons decreased 2.1 percent sequentially to 16.96 million in the three months ended December. Year-on-year, employment dropped by 4.78 percent.

The Spanish economy deteriorated severely in recent times after the country's once-booming real estate sector bust in 2008, leaving millions of workers out of labor.

Data from the government this week showed residential property prices fell 10 percent in the fourth quarter compared to last year. Separate data showed the home sales in Spain decreased at a marked annual rate of 6.1 percent in November.

In its latest quarterly bulletin, released yesterday, the Bank of Spain said Spain's recession likely deepened in the fourth quarter, with gross domestic product (GDP) falling for the fifth consecutive quarter.

According to the bank, GDP is estimated to have dropped at a faster rate of 0.6 percent sequentially in the fourth quarter than 0.3 percent in the third quarter, signaling a worsening of the ongoing recession.

Year-on-year, the economy contracted 1.7 percent during in the fourth quarter, after shrinking 1.6 percent in the third quarter. In the whole of 2012, GDP has declined 1.3 percent.

The Spanish economy may stop contracting in the second half of this year, but the balance of risks seems tilted towards a more protracted recession and a real return to growth may have to wait until next year, ING Bank economist Martin van Vliet said yesterday.

"The recent fall in Spanish government bond yields has been impressive," the economist noted. "But it has not yet been accompanied by meaningful signs of improvement in Spain's real economy."

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2013-01-24 16:42

Ireland To Record Stronger Growth This Year: IBEC

The Irish economy has stabilized in the second half of last year and is set to grow at a faster pace in 2013, marking the third successive year of reasonably solid growth, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) said Monday.

The IBEC, in its latest quarterly outlook, said that 2013 would mark a turning point for the Irish economy, with GDP growing 1.8 percent on the back of strong domestic demand and exports. The recovery is expected to gain further momentum in 2014.

"Although many Irish households continue to grapple with debt and unemployment, there is growing evidence that 2013 could be a turning point for the domestic economy," IBEC Chief Economist Fergal O'Brien said.

The estimated growth for this year represents an improvement from the 1.2 percent expansion projected for last year, which was supported by another record performance by the export sector. Ireland is the second fastest growing Eurozone economy in 2012.

Driving the recovery, private sector employment improved significantly in the third quarter of last year, and retail sales finished the year on a positive note. At the same time, the housing sector has seen prices stabilizing and housing transactions and new mortgage activity increasing, IBEC said.

The employers' group predicted that Ireland is set to record an annual inflation rate of 1.5 percent this year, which will move up to less than 2 percent in 2014.

At the same time, unemployment is forecast to stabilize and to remain high for some time, while private sector employment will start recovering with a modest growth of 0.4 percent in 2013.

"Exports continue to perform strongly, despite difficult trading conditions. Importantly, we're seeing more businesses successfully making the transition from domestic sales to exports, and progress continues in developing new markets," O'Brien added.

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2013-01-21 16:42

Australia New Home Buildings Rise 2% In September Quarter: HIA

New home buildings in Australia increased for the second consecutive quarter in three months ended September, data released by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) showed Thursday. news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-17 10:42

New Zealand ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Ticks Up In January

Confidence among New Zealand consumers increased in January as they remained upbeat about the general economic conditions, a survey by ANZ and Roy Morgan revealed Thursday.

The consumer confidence index rose to 118.3 in January from 114.7 in December. Readings above the 100 mark are taken as a net positive.

The current conditions index rose 8 points to 117, while future conditions index increased at the margin to 119, its highest level since mid 2011.

Consumers feel marginally less worse off financially than a year earlier with the corresponding index rising to -5 from -7 in the previous month.

The indicator measuring households' expectations regarding their own financial prospects in the year ahead fell marginally to 29 from 31 in December. However, the sentiment is still regarded as positive, the survey report said.

Consumers' outlook on the general economy one year ahead are better. Sentiment towards the economy five years out remains solid at 21, though down on the month prior, the report said.

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2013-01-17 07:46

China New Yuan Loans Below Forecast

Bank lending in China was weaker than expected in December, data from the People's Bank of China showed Thursday.

Financial institutions extended CNY 454.3 billion in new local currency loans last month, less than the CNY 550 billion expected by economists. This was also below CNY 522.9 billion loans approved in November.

In 2012, total lending in local currency hit CNY 8.2 trillion, up by around CNY 732 billion year-on-year. Foreign currency loans totaled $145.1 billion in 2012.

China's social financing, a measure of liquidity in the economy, stood at CNY 15.76 trillion last year.

PBoC said the country's broad money aggregate of M2 money supply increased 13.8 percent year-on-year in December to CNY 97.42 trillion. Narrow money or M1 totaled CNY 30.87 trillion, up 6.5 percent from the same month last year.

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2013-01-10 07:02

New Zealand Consumer Spending Rises For Third Month: Survey

Consumer spending in New Zealand rose for a third month in a row in December, a survey by Paymark showed Tuesday. The seasonally adjusted total spend through the Paymark network, which processes a large part of all electronic transactions in the country, increased 0. news.instaforex.com »

2013-01-08 09:42

China 2012 Trade Growth Likely At 6%: Commerce Minister

China's foreign trade is likely to hit a growth rate of around 6 percent this year, Commerce Minister Chen Deming was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

This was much below the official growth target of 10 percent. According to customs data, exports rose 2.9 percent year-on-year in November and imports recorded zero growth.

Chen also noted that the country's foreign direct investment will likely total $110 billion this year. Outbound direct investment by non-financial institutions will reach $70 billion in 2012, the minister was quoted as saying.

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2012-12-28 10:42

Turkey Tourist Arrivals Rise In November

The number of visitors to Turkey increased at a faster pace in November, data released by the Ministry of Tourism showed Tuesday. Visitor arrivals rose 2. news.instaforex.com »

2012-12-25 18:42

Germany Nov. HICP Inflation Revised Down

Germany's harmonized index of consumer prices rose less than estimated in the preliminary report in November, final figures published by the Federal Statistical Office showed Wednesday.

The HICP inflation was 1.9 percent in November, a tad below 2 percent reported initially. On a monthly basis, HICP fell 0.2 percent compared with 0.1 percent fall reported earlier.

The CPI rose 1.9 percent year-on-year and fell 0.1 percent on a monthly basis in November. The figures matched the preliminary estimates.

In October, CPI inflation was 2 percent. The slight decrease of the inflation rate in November is largely due to energy prices.

Energy prices rose 3.8 percent year-on-year in November, which is a smaller increase than in the months before. Not considering energy prices, the rate of inflation has remained constant at 1.6 percent.

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2012-12-12 11:21