European Central Bank could be forced into 75 basis point hike to tame record inflation August 31, 2022 The European Central Bank could be forced to hike interest rates by a historic 75 basis points next week to tame the largest inflation surge on record, economists bet today. The monetary authority governing the 19 countries using the euro may have to respond strongly or risk elevated prices being embedded into the bloc’s economy [...]
Recession looms over European economies grappling with soaring gas prices August 23, 2022 Recession is looming over Europe’s largest economies, driven by record inflation fuelled by high energy prices squeezing businesses and households, surveys published today showed. Consumers on the Continent are shrinking spending in response to record inflation sharply hitting their finances. Elevated gas costs, caused by Russia seemingly retaliating to western sanctions after the Ukraine invasion [...]
Severing EU-China ties would cost Germany six times as much as Brexit August 8, 2022 Severing ties between the European Union and China would cost Germany six times as much as Brexit, reveals a new study published today. The country’s automotive industry, among the biggest contributors to Germany’s top line GDP, would shrink nearly nine per cent if the EU cut trade links with Beijing, according to the IFO Institute. [...]
Scorching inflation hits eurozone retail sales in sign of looming recession August 3, 2022 Surging inflation eroding Europeans’ living standards is squeezing spending in the bloc, reveal new figures published today. Retail sales dropped 1.2 per cent in the 19 countries that use the euro in June, down from a 0.4 per cent rise in May, Eurostat said. The drop, which was worse than analysts’ forecasts, means retail sales [...]
European Central Bank marks first rate rise in over a decade with shock 50 basis point move July 21, 2022 The European Central Bank (ECB) today marked its first interest rate rise in over a decade with a shock 50 basis point move. The biggest inflation surge in the eurozone since the creation of the single currency in 1999 forced President Christine Lagarde and co to launch the bigger hike. The Continent’s monetary authority has [...]
Euro kisses parity with US dollar for first time in two decades July 12, 2022 The euro kissed parity with the US dollar for the first time in 20 years today. Fears of the Continent tipping into recession have strengthened recently due to bets that Russian president Vladimir Putin will choke energy supplies to the bloc. The currency used by 19 countries – soon to be 20 when Croatia adopts [...]
Euro tumbles to 20-year low against the dollar on rising recession risk July 5, 2022 The euro has tumbled to its lowest level against the dollar in two decades caused by investors ditching European assets on fears the bloc will tip into recession soon. The currency used by 19 European countries – soon to be 20 when Croatia joins the union next January – fell around 1.3 per cent against [...]
Germany registers first trade deficit since 1991 on surging energy prices July 5, 2022 Surging European energy prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left Germany with its first trade deficit in over three decades, official figures released today revealed. German imports outstripped exports for the first time since 1991, generating a €1bn (£862m) trade deficit in May, according to the country’s statistics agency. Exports dropped 0.5 per [...]
German factory prices surge at fastest pace since 1940s June 20, 2022 German factory prices are accelerating at the quickest pace since the late 1940s, propelled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine lighting a fuel under European energy prices, official stats published today revealed. Producer prices jumped 33.6 per cent over the year to May, the biggest rise since Germany’s statistics agency started tracking the data in 1949. [...]
European Central Bank confirms first rate rise in over a decade next month June 9, 2022 The European Central Bank (ECB) today confirmed it will hike rates for the first time in over a decade in a sign that the era of loose policy and low inflation is coming to an end. President Christine Lagarde and co said the central bank will lift rates 25 basis points next month, which will [...]