France’s government borrowing costs have surged as investors grow increasingly concerned about the country’s public finances, political uncertainty and ongoing protests. On Thursday, the premium investors demand to hold French 10-year government bonds over safer German bonds reached 173.58 basis points, its widest level since November 2011 during the euro zone debt crisis.
France is witnessing a growing shift towards private retirement savings as public confidence in its pension system declines. Concerns over rising government debt, an ageing population and falling birth rates have led many workers, particularly younger people, to question whether the state-funded system can provide sufficient retirement income. A survey found that 72% of
Italy’s EU-harmonised consumer prices rose 2.0% month-on-month in September, pushing annual inflation to 4.1%, up sharply from 3.2% in August. The increase was driven largely by soaring energy costs linked to turmoil in the Middle East. The latest figure was above the 3.8% median forecast from a Reuters poll of 17 analysts and marked Italy’s […]
Germany needs to take on new debt to strengthen its defence and infrastructure, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said while defending the government’s 2027 budget. He argued that increased borrowing is necessary to address growing security threats and years of underinvestment. Germany plans to borrow €838.2 billion between 2027 and 2030, while total investment is
Germany’s construction sector has warned that its long-running downturn is far from over, as rising energy and raw material costs continue to weigh on businesses. Industry leaders say a hoped-for recovery has been weakened by a new wave of price increases linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Marcus Nachbauer, chairman of Germany’s main […]
Italy’s national statistics bureau ISTAT has slightly lowered its economic growth forecast for 2026, projecting gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 0.7%, down from the 0.8% estimate issued in December. The agency also expects the economy to expand by 0.7% in 2027, supported by stronger-than-expected performance in the first quarter, when GDP rose 0.3% from […]
Italy is witnessing the rise of “silver housing” — residential communities designed for independent seniors — as longer life expectancy and changing family structures weaken traditional elder care systems. These developments, already common in the United States and northern Europe, are gaining popularity among active older Italians seeking community living, services, and
Germany’s economy is projected to grow by only 1% in 2026, according to the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), which warned that deeper reforms are needed for a sustainable recovery. The forecast marks a slight upgrade from its earlier 0.7% estimate, but DIHK managing director Helena Melnikov said the pace remains inadequate compared […]
Ministers from six major European economies, including Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, pledged to take the lead in advancing projects stalled by the EU’s slow decision-making processes. The virtual meeting followed criticism from the Trump administration over the EU’s lengthy deliberations, with leaders emphasizing the need to strengthen
Germany’s economic recovery after three years of stagnation is expected to begin slowly next year before gaining momentum later, according to the Bundesbank’s latest biannual economic projections. Europe’s largest economy has struggled since 2023 due to a weakened industrial sector, subdued consumer spending and restrained government expenditure. A turnaround began this









