Euro Zone

Steady euro zone outlook holds as economists resist changing tune

The outlook for euro zone growth, inflation and interest rates has remained broadly stable for 2026, as economists left their forecasts largely unchanged despite a tumultuous start to the year,…

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Euro zone economy caps resilient 2025 with retail and industry boosts

Euro zone retail sales rose more than expected in November and German industry continued to expand, offering further evidence that the currency bloc ended a turbulent year with stable -…

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Euro zone growth slows in December but completes strongest quarter since 2023, PMI shows

The euro zone economy expanded at a slower pace last month but ended 2025 with its strongest quarterly growth in more than two years as solid momentum in services offset…

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Euro zone growth beats forecasts as France outperforms

The euro zone economy grew quicker than expected last quarter as buoyant consumption offset faltering exports and persistent struggles in Germany's oversized industrial sector, fresh data from Eurostat showed on…

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Euro zone business growth inched up in July but remained subdued, PMI shows

Business activity in the euro zone grew at a slightly faster pace in July than in June but remained sluggish as demand dipped, a survey showed on Tuesday. The HCOB…

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Bulgaria’s Small Businesses Wary as Euro Adoption Nears

As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on Jan. 1, 2026, small business owners across the country are expressing concern about the transition, fearing disruption and financial strain despite reassurances…

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Euro zone finance ministers recommend Bulgaria adopt euro in 2026

Euro zone finance ministers recommended on Thursday that Bulgaria become the 21st member of the euro zone starting January 1, 2026, backing earlier positive assessments of the country's readiness from…

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Bulgaria meets criteria for joining eurozone from 2026

The EU gave the green light on Wednesday for Bulgaria to adopt the euro from 1 January 2026, meaning it will become the 21st member of the single currency area.…

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Euro zone rebound hopes dashed by services slump

The euro zone economy is still just limping along and a raft of surveys published on Thursday point to only lukewarm optimism among firms as services, the bloc's engine in…

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ECB policymakers pledge market stability but see big growth hit

The European Central Bank is ready to preserve financial stability in case of further market turmoil but the sector, including hedge funds, appears well prepared for the recent rout, ECB…

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Euro zone economy grew faster than initially thought in Q4

The euro zone economy grew faster in the final quarter of 2024 than first estimated but nearly all of the revision is due to Ireland, where a large multinational sector…

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ECB cuts interest rates with economy ‘to remain weak’

The European Central Bank — the central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro — on Thursday lowered its key deposit rate by a quarter point to 2.75%. The…

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Euro zone economy stagnated last quarter, foreshadowing weak 2025

The euro zone economy stagnated last quarter as worried consumers zipped up their purses, adding to fears that a long-predicted recovery could be further delayed, Eurostat data showed on Thursday.…

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Eurozone inflation picks up in December

Eurozone inflation rose in December as energy prices slightly ticked up, official data showed Tuesday, rebounding for a third straight month but unlikely to stop another interest-rate cut by the…

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Euro zone factories saw little festive cheer in December, PMI shows

Manufacturers in the euro zone ended last year on a sour note, with factory activity declining at a faster rate, according to a survey which offered scant signals of an…

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EU Commission recommends slight euro zone fiscal tightening in 2025 and 2026

Euro zone countries should aim for slight fiscal tightening not only in 2025 but also in 2026 to improve debt sustainability, the European Commission said on Wednesday in a recommendation…

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Euro zone retail sales much stronger than expected

Euro zone retail sales grew unexpectedly quickly in September even after a large upward revision in the previous month's data, adding to the case that private consumption is finally starting…

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Euro zone investor morale slightly up, but ‘turnaround looks different’

Investor morale in the euro zone rose for a second consecutive month in November, though by slightly less than expected, as somewhat greater satisfaction with the current situation boosted the…

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Euro zone growth beats forecasts but outlook remains muted

The euro zone economy grew faster than expected last quarter but threats of oversized tariffs from a potential Trump presidency along with escalating trade tensions with China are keeping the…

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Euro zone business activity stuck in a rut, survey shows

Euro zone business activity stalled again this month, remaining in contractionary territory as demand from both home and abroad fell despite firms barely increasing their prices, a survey showed on…

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ECB lowers rates and eyes more cuts as economy sags

The European Central Bank cut interest rates on Thursday for the third time this year, saying inflation in the euro zone was increasingly under control while the outlook for the…

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Euro zone business activity unexpectedly contracts in September, PMI shows

Euro zone business activity contracted sharply and unexpectedly this month as the bloc's dominant services industry flatlined while a downturn in manufacturing accelerated, a survey showed on Monday. The downturn…

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Euro zone factory activity stuck in a rut, July PMI shows

Euro zone manufacturing activity remained mired in contraction in July amid a broadbased malaise, with output declining at its fastest pace this year, according to a survey which indicated the…

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Eurozone inflation confirmed at 2.6%

The euro area annual inflation rate was 2.6% in May 2024, up from 2.4% in April, statistics body Eurostat reports – confirming its flash estimate at the end of May.…

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Eurozone growth accelerates in April, but price pressures may test the ECB

European private sector economic activity rebounds strongly in April, led by robust demand in services, although manufacturing continued to contract. However, resuming inflationary pressures cast uncertainty on the speed of…

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Euro zone investor morale hits two-year high in April

Investor morale in the euro zone improved for the sixth consecutive month in April to its highest level in more than two years, a survey showed this week, adding that…

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Eurozone economy returns to growth thanks to strong services output

The eurozone economy returned to growth for the first time since May 2023 thanks to stronger-than-expected output from the services sector, according to the closely followed purchasing managers’ index (PMI).…

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Euro zone business activity close to stabilising in March, PMI survey shows

By Jonathan Cable LONDON, March 21 (Reuters) - Euro zone business activity was within a whisker of returning to growth in March, outperforming expectations, according to a survey which showed…

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Euro zone current account surplus widens in Jan

FRANKFURT, March 21 (Reuters) - The euro zone's adjusted current account surplus widened in January as a jump in the trade surplus more than offset a lower surplus from services,…

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Euro zone Q4 employment revised to 1.2% y/y

March 8 (Reuters) - Euro zone employment rose by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter and rose by 1.2% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, the European Union statistics office said on Friday, confirming its…

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Euro zone investor morale gains in March but no sign of spring revival

FRANKFURT, March 4 (Reuters) - Investor morale in the euro zone improved for the fifth consecutive month in March to its highest level since April 2023, a survey showed on…

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Euro zone inflation expectations edge up for the year ahead: ECB

FRANKFURT, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Inflation expectations among euro zone consumers rose for the year ahead and held steady for three years out, a new survey by the European Central…

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Euro zone consumer inflation in January

Feb 22 (Reuters) - EU statistics office Eurostat released on Thursday the following harmonised data on January consumer prices in the 20-nation euro zone. The table includes the core rate…

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Euro zone business activity inches towards growth in Feb, survey shows

By Jonathan Cable LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The downturn in euro zone business activity eased in February, suggesting signs of recovery, as the dominant services sector broke a six-month…

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Euro zone’s low productivity may slow inflation’s fall – ECB’s Schnabel

FRANKFURT, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Europe's sluggish productivity growth may slow the fall in inflation to the European Central Bank's 2% target, ECB policymaker Isabel Schnabel said on Friday. "Persistently…

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ECB needs more data but inflation going in right direction: Lagarde

FRANKFURT, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Euro zone economic data indicates that inflation is heading back towards target as earlier predicted but the European Central Bank still needs more information before…

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Euro zone finance ministers eye stock exchange mergers, document shows

By Huw Jones LONDON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The European Union should consider tackling barriers that prevent stock exchanges from merging to help deepen the bloc's capital market or risk…

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EU Commission cuts 2024 euro zone growth forecast, sees smaller inflation

By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The euro zone economy will grow slower than expected this year after price growth eroded purchasing power and high ECB interest rates…

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Italy’s ECB member sees time for rate cuts “fast approaching”

Addressing the Assiom Forex meeting in Genoa, ECB Governing Council member Fabio Panetta said the next monetary policy move had to reflect a situation in which disinflation is ongoing anda…

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Euro zone investor morale rises in February – survey

Investor morale in the euro zone improved for the fourth consecutive month in February to its highest level since April, but economic weakness in Germany means it is too early…

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Euro zone economy showing some signs of recovery -PMI

The euro zone economy showed tentative signs of recovery at the start of the year, according to a survey which showed rising inflationary pressures, bolstering the European Central Bank's case…

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Czech government to evaluate merits of joining ‘euro waiting room’

PRAGUE, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The Czech government will evaluate the merits of joining the ERM II exchange rate mechanism, a currency flotation band that aspiring countries must spend two…

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Euro zone inflation dips but core figures may disappoint

FRANKFURT, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation eased as expected last month but underlying price pressures fell less than forecast, likely boosting the European Central Bank's argument that rate…

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Bulgarian PM hints country may miss eurozone entry date

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said his country may fumble the January 1, 2025, target date to join the EU’s currency zone. The country’s target date to adopt the euro…

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Euro zone current account surplus shrinks in Nov

FRANKFURT, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The euro zone's current account surplus declined in November on lower primary income, which typically includes the flow of profits, wages, interest income and dividends…

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Euro zone consumer inflation in December

Jan 17(Reuters) - EU statistics office Eurostat released on Wednesday the following harmonised data on December 2023 consumer prices in the 20-nation euro zone. The table includes the core rate…

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Euro zone facing weak growth, possible recession, ECB’s de Guindos says

FRANKFURT, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The euro zone may have been in recession last quarter and prospects remain weak, European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said on Wednesday,…

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Euro zone investor morale gains in January -survey

FRANKFURT, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Investor morale in the euro zone improved for the third consecutive month in January to its highest level since May, but a turnaround for the…

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Euro zone business activity shrank again in Dec, pointing to recession -PMI

By Indradip Ghosh BENGALURU, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The contraction in euro zone business activity continued at the end of 2023 due to a persistent downturn in the dominant services…

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Euro zone economy likely entered recession last year

Euro zone factories ended 2023 on the back foot, with activity contracting in December for an 18th straight month, according to a survey which gave scant signs of any imminent…

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Euro zone likely in recession, PMI surveys show

By Jonathan Cable The downturn in euro zone business activity surprisingly deepened in December, according to closely watched surveys which indicated the bloc's economy is almost certainly in recession. It…

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Euro zone industry output falls by more than expected in October

BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Euro zone industrial production declined by more than expected in October, with the sharpest drop for capital goods such as machinery, reinforcing survey indications that…

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New ECB rating agency Scope puts greater weight on euro zone protection mechanisms

By Marc Jones Scope, Europe's first ECB-approved credit ratings agency, promises to put more weight on the euro zone's improved ability to navigate crises although it has concerns about Italy…

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Euro zone retail sales inch up in Oct, ending three-month decline

BRUSSELS, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Euro zone retail sales rose very slightly in October, broadly in line with expectations, after three consecutive months of decline, suggesting that consumer spending will…

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Euro zone factory downturn eased a touch in November -PMI

LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The broad-based downturn in euro zone manufacturing activity eased slightly last month but the sector remained deeply rooted in contractionary territory, prompting factories to trim…

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Euro zone inflation tumbles, pitting ECB against markets

FRANKFURT, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation tumbled far more than expected this month, a challenge to the European Central Bank's narrative that price growth remains stubborn and likely…

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Greece to repay more euro zone bailout loans ahead of schedule

Greece will next month repay ahead of schedule 5.3 billion euros ($5.8 billion) of loans owed to euro zone countries under its first bailout, and hopes to repeat the move…

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