ECONOMY
-The summer sales season officially kicked off today (July 8) and will extend through August 31. According to assessments, this summer’s sales target is to exceed last year’s benchmark of 7 billion euros in turnover for both July and August, AMNA reported.
-Greece’s trade deficit rose to EUR 3.4 billion in May 2024 on an annual basis, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data showed. It was the widest trade shortfall in a year and a half, as imports climbed by 6.8% from the previous year to EUR 7.5 billion, while, exports rose at a softer 1.9% to EUR 4.2 billion.
Considering the first five months of the year, the country’s trade gap rose to EUR 14.4 billion from EUR 12.5 billion a year ago, as exports dropped 4.5% while imports increased by 2.6%.
-The number of pensioners who have decided to continue working in Greece has increased fivefold under new tax law, according to the Single Social Security Entity (EFKA).
-In Q1 2024, the turnover of second-hand goods registered an uptick of 26.3% on an annual basis, ELSTAT data showed.
SOCIAL
During the 2020-22 period, the number of deaths reported in Greece was 169,000, compared to only 113,000 births, according to the new bulletin by the Institute of Demographic Research (IDR).
CULTURE
Four new registrations were approved this July for Greece’s National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Greek Culture Ministry: The “Miroloi” of Mani (a traditional ritual of impromptu mourning), “Evagelizou” (a church hymn dedicated to the Annunciation of the Holy Mother), “Thermiotikos Balos” (a traditional dance from Kythnos island) and “The dance of the Mechanic” (Kalymnos island).
TOURISM
-Leading Swiss leisure travel airline, Edelweiss, has added two direct flights from Zurich to Skiathos island in the Sporades. Edelweiss is the sister company of Swiss International Air Lines and a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.