Macroeconomy
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).
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.