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Spain economy shrinks in second quarter; forecasted to contract 1.7% this year

Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 06:07 UTC
Full article 4 comments
Minister de Guindos: “we are committed to austerity” Minister de Guindos: “we are committed to austerity”

Spain's economy shrank further in the second quarter but looks set to stabilise over the rest of the year while the government continues to push structural reforms and budget austerity, Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said.

European leaders on Friday agreed to allow the Euro zone rescue fund to inject aid directly into problematic banks, bypassing the sovereign government, and intervene on debt markets to support Treasuries facing high funding costs.

The accord was trumpeted by European newspapers as a triumph for Spain and Italy, under siege by nervous investors, and as a defeat for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has resisted using common Euro funds to support troubled economies.

Merkel has argued Euro zone members must be responsible for turning around their own economies and warned yielding aid terms could prompt European politicians to ease off on unpopular reform measures and spending cuts.

“Everyone has come away from this important summit a winner. It is the Euro which has won. From now on, we must all contribute,” de Guindos said during an event at conservative think tank FAES.

“The Spanish government is committed to austerity, with a difficult budget correction, and economic reforms which are essential for growth ... it's a process which must continue.”

Spanish GDP shrank by 0.3% quarter on quarter in the first three months of the year. The government expects the economy to contract by 1.7% year on year in 2012 but many analysts have warned deep austerity measures could make the slump worse.

The conservatives, who inherited from the outgoing Socialists one of the euro zone's highest public deficits, at 8.9 percent of GDP in 2011, have said they will shrink the shortfall to 5.3 percent this year and 3 percent in 2013.
 

Categories: International.

Top Comments

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  • Englander

    Good footballers.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 09:28 am 0
  • ChrisR

    At least their economy will be better than Argentina.

    We can at least expect near the truth from the Spanish Government, unlike the lies from INDEC.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 05:24 pm 0
  • Fido Dido

    We can at least expect near the truth from the Spanish Government, unlike the lies from INDEC.

    My god, you're such an idiot. As if you can trust those stooges in the Spanish Government. Mr Guindos (ex Lehman Brothers) who intrudoced Spain to their worthless derivative. They are commited to austerity, meaning raising taxes, cut services you pay for and pay the zombie banks, meanwhile let the people eat cake, while useful idiots believe it's a good idea.

    Jul 03rd, 2012 - 06:38 am 0
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