Greek Daily News 24/04/2024

ECONOMY

-The Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) sees Greece’s 2024 economic growth at 2.1% against a previous estimate of 2.4%, its latest report revealed.

-Four in 10 Greeks will be spending less on edibles, drinks, gifts and travel for Orthodox Easter on May 5, a study by the Retail Consumer Goods Research Institute (IELKA) revealed.

-In 2023, Greek banks made new purchases of bonds and investment assets amounting to 9.3 billion euros, Kathimerini reported.

-For the enterprises in retail trade divisions obliged to double-entry accounting bookkeeping, the turnover in February 2024 amounted to 3.22 billion euro, recording an increase of 8.6% in comparison with February 2023, ELSTAT data showed.

-The domestic production of cosmetics (in value, at wholesale prices) showed a remarkable increase of 7.7% in the last three years (2021-2023), according to ICAP/CRIF data. A further increase in value is expected in 2024-2025 but at a lower rate (3%-4%).

-Greece on Wednesday borrowed 3 billion euros from the markets, after the successful completion of a 30-year syndicated bond issue that attracted bids amounting to 33 billion euros, AMNA reported. The last time the Greek state borrowed through a 30-year bond issue was in 2021, while the last occasion it tapped the markets with a bond issue was in January.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Two remaining sections of the north-south E65 highway running through central Greece, essentially connecting the cities of Kalambaka and Lamia, were turned over to traffic on Tuesday.

MEDIA

-In 2023 compared with 2022, a decrease of 10.2% is recorded in the total sales of newspapers and a decrease of 20.7% is recorded in the total sales of magazines, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) announced.

TOURISM

-In the first quarter of 2024, passenger traffic at the country’s 39 airports increased by 14.4% on an annual basis. During the period under review, the number of flights also grew by 7.8% to 70,271.

GENERAL

-All ships are to remain docked in Greek ports on May 1 after a decision by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) to participate in a 24-hour, nationwide strike called by the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE).