Spain has cut its growth forecasts again (or rather, experts have), which means it will ask for more time to solve its problems. And its path to a bailout from its neighbors and bond purchases by the European Central Bank become more complex. As each month passes, and the recession in Spain worsens and unemployment rises, the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is later and later in publicly admitting its problems. Newspaper El Pais reports that Spain’s gross domestic product will tick down sharply next year, and that its budget deficit will be 6% rather than the 4.5% most recently forecast.
El Pais reported that the Commission forecast a 1.5 percent decline in Spanish gross domestic product in 2013, scarcely any better than a 1.6 percent drop this year. Next year’s Commission forecast is in line with the consensus in a Reuters poll of economists taken a fortnight ago.
However, both are significantly worse than the 0.5 percent contraction expected by the Spanish government in 2013.
Douglas A. McIntyre
Is Your Money Earning the Best Possible Rate? (Sponsor)
Let’s face it: If your money is just sitting in a checking account, you’re losing value every single day. With most checking accounts offering little to no interest, the cash you worked so hard to save is gradually being eroded by inflation.
However, by moving that money into a high-yield savings account, you can put your cash to work, growing steadily with little to no effort on your part. In just a few clicks, you can set up a high-yield savings account and start earning interest immediately.
There are plenty of reputable banks and online platforms that offer competitive rates, and many of them come with zero fees and no minimum balance requirements. Click here to see if you’re earning the best possible rate on your money!
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.