Retail trade up in March / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 4 May 2022

Updated 1255

Retail trade up in March

In March 2022, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 3% in Malta, compared with February 2022, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Compared with March 2021, the calendar adjusted retail sales index in Malta increased by 16.4%, well above the EU and eurozone averages. The seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU while the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.7% in the EU. (Newsbook)

Malta tops WHO obesity list

Maltese men have topped obesity lists for another year, according to the WHO European Regional Obesity Report. Over three-quarters of men in Malta are overweight, the highest rate in the 52 countries making up the World Health Organisation’s European region. At just under 60%, the rate for women in Malta is significantly lower than that of their men although it is still the second-highest when compared to the rest of the region. Meanwhile, Malta’s children also continued to be among the heaviest in the European region, with the problem being worse among boys than girls. (Times of Malta)

Covid-19 Update: 158 new Covid-19 cases were reported on health authorities with active cases standing at 3,283. One new death took the fatalities up to 703.

Morning Briefing

BOV to pay €182m in out of court Deiulemar settlement

Bank of Valletta has announced that it had reached a €182.5 million settlement over the long-drawn-out Deiulemar bankruptcy case in Italy. In a company announcement on Tuesday, the bank said the settlement had been reached out of court. The Bank was looking at a massive payment exceeding €370 million to Deiulemar shareholders after losing its case in February before the Italian courts. BOV said an agreement was reached earlier on Tuesday, whereby, without admission of any liability on either party, the bank will pay €182.5 million as a settlement of the disputes and of all claims that had been made by the curators against the bank. (Times of Malta)

Malta drops 8 points in World Press Freedom Index

Malta has moved up three places in the World Press Freedom Index, ranking 78 out of 180 countries, in a study conducted by Reporters Without Borders. However, while Malta has increased its ranking, the island’s score has decreased from 69.5 in 2021 to 61.55 in 2022. According to the study published on Tuesday, journalists in Malta have “to cope with a highly polarised environment under the strong influence of political parties.” (Maltatoday).

Covid-19 Update:

Covid cases have gone down to 3,328, health authorities have reported, while the country has registered two further deaths, taking the tally to 702. 175 new cases were reported on Tuesday.