Subscribe to Dollars & Sense magazine. Recent articles related to the financial crisis. Germany and Japan Return To Growth (For Now)From Bloomberg:Euro-Area Economy Contracted 0.1% in Second Quarter (Update4) Bloomberg By Simone Meier Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) The euro-region economy barely contracted in the second quarter as Germany and France unexpectedly returned to growth, suggesting Europe's worst recession since World War II is coming to an end. Gross domestic product fell 0.1 percent from the first quarter, when it plunged 2.5 percent, the most since the euro- area data were first compiled in 1995, the European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg said today. Economists had estimated GDP declined 0.5 percent in the three months through June, the median of 32forecasts in a Bloomberg survey showed. Stocks rose and the euro climbed after today's figures added to evidence the worst of the global slump has passed. Demand for European exports is improving just as government rescue packages and lower interest rates support spending at home. While the data suggest the European Central Bank won’t need to add to stimulus measures, rising unemployment across the region may still stifle consumer spending. Read the rest of of the article Labels: bailout, Bank of Japan, Eastern Europe, economic indicators, financial crisis, GDP, Germany Please consider donating to Dollars & Sense and/or subscribing to the magazine (both print and e-subscriptions now available!). |
