- French unemployment remained stable at 9.6 percent in February, down 0.5 percent compared to its February 2005 rate. In March, French labor unions and students held regular protests against newly proposed work laws that would make it easier for employers to fire workers under the age of 26 without cause. GDP growth in France decreased in 2005 compared to the previous year because of declines in manufacturing growth, especially in the auto industry, and drops in agricultural production, according to the INSEE. INSEE expects an annualized GDP growth of slightly more than 2 percent in the first half of 2006.
- German unemployment rate increased 0.1 percent to 12.2 percent, a 0.4-percent drop compared to February 2004. According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Germany’s CPI grew 2.1 percent in February over the same month a year earlier, as prices continued to rise for mineral oil products. Also, the country’s PPI rose 5.9 percent from February 2005, posting its largest annual rate of change since a 6.4-percent gain in June 1982. The PPI increased 0.7 percent from January.
- UK’s jobless rate increased 0.1 percent on the previous three-month period and rose 0.3 percent on the same period a year ago, according to preliminary estimates.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Post a Comment