Autumn forecast 2012-14: sailing through rough waters
November 7, 2012--The short-term outlook for the EU economy remains fragile, but a gradual return to GDP growth is projected for 2013, with further strengthening in 2014. On an annual basis, GDP is set to contract by 0.3% in the EU and 0.4% in the euro area in 2012. GDP growth for 2013 is projected at 0.4% in the EU and 0.1% in the euro area.
Unemployment in the EU is expected to remain very high. The large internal and external imbalances that built up in the pre-crisis years are being reduced, but this process continues to weigh on domestic demand in some countries, and economic activity diverges significantly across Member States. At the same time, competitiveness lost in the first decade of EMU in some Member States is being gradually restored, so that export growth is projected to increase progressively as global trade starts reaccelerating. Further progress in consolidating public finances is underpinning this rebalancing process.
The structural reforms undertaken should begin to bear fruit over the forecast period, while advancements in the EMU architecture continue to strengthen confidence. This should pave the way for a stronger and more evenly distributed expansion in 2014. GDP growth in 2014 is projected at 1.6% in the EU and 1.4% in the euro area. Olli Rehn, Commission Vice-President for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro said: "Europe is going through a difficult process of macroeconomic rebalancing, which will still last for some time. Our projections point to a gradual improvement in Europe's growth outlook from early next year. Major policy decisions have laid the foundations for strengthening confidence. Market stress has been reduced, but there is no room for complacency. Europe must continue to combine sound fiscal policies with structural reforms to create the conditions for sustainable growth to bring unemployment down from the current unacceptably high levels."
A modest recovery in 2013
After the contraction recorded in the second quarter of 2012, economic activity is not expected to recover before year end. GDP growth in 2013 is projected to be very modest before firming somewhat in 2014. Net exports are projected to continue contributing to growth. Domestic demand is expected to remain weak in 2013 and to pick up only in 2014, as it continues to be held back by the on-going deleveraging in some Member States and the reallocation of resources across sectors. This process is set to leave its mark on the labour market. Unemployment is expected to peak just below 11% in the EU and 12% in the euro area in 2013, though with large variations among Member States.
While being low for the EU as a whole, financing costs diverge markedly between Member States. Recent policy decisions have eased tensions, although difficulties in parts of the banking sector and the weak economy are likely to continue to weigh on credit supply.
Energy prices and indirect tax increases continued to be the main drivers of consumer price inflation in recent quarters. However, underlying domestic price pressures are subdued and inflation is forecast to fall below 2% in the course of 2013. Fiscal consolidation progressing
Fiscal consolidation is progressing. Government deficits are expected to fall to 3.6% in the EU and 3.3% in the euro area in 2012. The available information from budgets for 2013 points to continued, though somewhat slower, consolidation with headline government deficits projected at 3.2% of GDP in the EU and 2.6% in the euro area. This is also reflected in the structural improvements of the budget balance, which in the EU is expected at 1.1pp of GDP in 2012 and 0.7pp in 2013, and in the euro area at 1.3pp and 0.9pp, respectively. General government debt in 2012 stands at 93% in the euro area and at 87% of GDP in the EU.
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view the European Commission report-European Economic Forecast-Economic and Financial Affirs
Autumn 2012
Source: European Commission
EU slashes eurozone growth forecast for 2013
November 7, 2012—The European Commission on Wednesday slashed its eurozone economic growth forecast for next year to just 0.1 percent, six months after tipping a much stronger recovery of 1.0 percent.
The European Union's Autumn economic forecasts said gross domestic product (GDP) across the 17-nation currency area would shrink 0.4 percent in 2012 and that it would take until 2014 to recover, with expected growth then of 1.4 percent.
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Source: EUbusiness
Autumn forecast 2012-14: sailing through rough waters
November 7, 2012--The short-term outlook for the EU economy remains fragile, but a gradual return to GDP growth is projected for 2013, with further strengthening in 2014.
On an annual basis, GDP is set to contract by 0.3% in the EU and 0.4% in the euro area in 2012. GDP growth for 2013 is projected at 0.4% in the EU and 0.1% in the euro area. Unemployment in the EU is expected to remain very high.
The large internal and external imbalances that built up in the pre-crisis years are being reduced, but this process continues to weigh on domestic demand in some countries, and economic activity diverges significantly across Member States. At the same time, competitiveness lost in the first decade of EMU in some Member States is being gradually restored, so that export growth is projected to increase progressively as global trade starts reaccelerating. Further progress in consolidating public finances is underpinning this rebalancing process.
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Source: Europa
Eurozone downturn gathers pace in October
November 6, 2012--Private sector business activity across the eurozone shrank at its fastest rate in three-and-a-half years in October, a key survey showed on Tuesday.
The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a leading indicator compiled by the Markit research firm, produced a combined manufacturing and services score of 45.7 points, down from 46.1 in September and below an earlier flash estimate of 45.8.
This was "a level historically consistent with the region's economy contracting at a quarterly rate of around 0.5 percent," said Markit senior economist Rob Dobson.
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Source: EUbusiness
Asia-Europe leaders warn on global economy
November 6, 2012--Asian and European leaders warned Tuesday of “substantial” uncertainties facing the global economy and pledged to work together to strengthen economic ties.
They also voiced hope at an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Laos that the debt-laden European economy would "gradually recover" from its current slump, according to a closing statement.
"Leaders emphasised that strong and sustained economic growth in ASEM partners would contribute to the long-term strong, sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy," it said.
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Source: EUbusiness
D. Boerse faces 100-150mEuro capital shortfall
November 6,2012-- Deutsche Börse needs around €100m-€150m in additional capital for Eurex, its clearing house, to meet incoming requirements from European regulators as it prepares for the implementation of wide-ranging reforms of derivatives markets.
The shortfall, announced to analysts on a conference call last week, comes as the German exchange prepares to formally launch off-exchange derivatives clearing on Eurex on November 13.
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Source: Albourne Village Newsletter for Friday 9th November 2012