Daily news from Spain
April 18th, 2012
Vueling transported 2.57 million passengers in the first three months of the year, which is an increase of 24.1% over the same period in 2011, with a load factor of 76.4% of total capacity, representing an increase of 7.3 percentage points, the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) said in a statement.
So far this year the airline, headed by Josep Piqué, has operated 12.2% more flights reaching a total of 18,914 operations, compared with 16,860 flights operated in the same period a year ago. …continue reading Vueling Carried 24% More Passengers in Q1
April 17th, 2012
Facebook has announced its intention to purchase the photo sharing application Instagram for one billion dollars, about 762 million euros. The transaction is expected to be completed during this quarter and will be paid for in cash and stock.
On his profile on the social network, the creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerbeg, said “for years, we have focused on building the best experience of sharing photos with your friends and family.” “Now, we will be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team.” …continue reading Facebook to Purchase Instagram for a Billion Dollars
April 16th, 2012
Used car sales rose 7% in March, accumulating growth of 14.4% between January and March this year. In total, so far this year, 420,302 vehicles have been transferred, according to the Federation of Automotive Dealers (Faconauto).
Of this overall total, El Economista reported that 158,450 used cars were traded in March, representing an increase of 7% over the same month in 2011. With respect to sales of new cars, these figures continue to represent a ratio of two to one. …continue reading Used Car Sales up 14.4% to March
April 13th, 2012
The number of 500 euro notes in circulation dropped 1% in February to 99 million notes, and stood at early 2006 levels, according to the Bank of Spain.
This drop in large denomination bills in the second month of the year came after the slight decline experienced in January to 100 million notes, ending a period of stability that lasted the entire second half of 2011. Year-on-year, the figure has fallen by 3.8% from the 103 million 500 euro notes in circulation in February 2011. …continue reading 500 Euro Notes Getting Scarcer
April 12th, 2012
In Prague last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to give unemployed Spanish priority to work in Germany against immigrants from outside the European Union. “If we see we have a need for people in Germany, and in Spain 40% of young people are without work, then we are not going to bring in immigrants from outside,” said the Berlin Government head in a public debate with her Czech counterpart, Petr Necas, in the Law Faculty of Carolina University.
This decision, according to the Christian Democrat leader, is in response to one of the fundamental requirements of the EU that, since its foundation, has been to promote the creation of an internal market for labour, services and capital. However, both Merkel and Necas acknowledged the long road that still lay ahead. …continue reading Merkel Favours Unemployed Spanish Over Non-EUs
April 11th, 2012
The European Commission has admitted that the worsening situation in Spain has forced it to cut the growth forecast for this year in Portugal, and complicates its rescue plan. They have argued that Portugal does not need a second aid package like Greece, because it is implementing the adjustments promised to the EU “to the letter” but acknowledges that the markets will have the “final decision”.
“The worsening of the forecasts (with an economic contraction of 3.3% this year instead of the previously predicted 3%) is mainly due to the external environment and the worsening of the prospects of major trading partners, particularly Spain,” said the second in charge of the Brussels mission for Portugal, Peter Weiss. …continue reading Brussels Admits Spain’s Situation Complicates Rescue of Portugal
April 10th, 2012
A total of 40 people have been killed on the roads, in some 33 fatal accidents registered during the Easter break (Semana Santa), which began last Friday, 30th March, and concluded on Monday, 9th April, reported a spokesman for the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT).
ABC News reported that on Sunday, up until midnight, 15 serious injuries and 18 minor injuries were counted on the Spanish roads. Wednesday 4th April was the day with most accidents, registering nine deaths in a total of six accidents. …continue reading Spain Sees Forty Road Deaths Over Easter
April 9th, 2012
The director general of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, warned that Greece has not yet completely overcome bankruptcy, despite the austerity measures adopted by its Government. In an interview with U.S. network CBS, Lagarde does not rule out the possibility that Greece will fail, and that, as a consequence, it will be forced to leave the euro and the European Union (EU).
Diario Sur reported that these statements voice the latest concern about the situation in which Greece may find itself after the early elections to be held on 6th May, since a change of political forces that integrate the government could jeopardize the conditions under which Athens accepted the second bailout deal. …continue reading IMF Does Not Rule Out Greece Leaving Euro and EU
April 6th, 2012
Unemployment in the eurozone stood at 10.8% in February, a record level that exceeded the January figure by one-tenth and contrasts with the 10% registered a year ago. Spain is once again the country with the worst employment figures across the region, with its unemployment rate rising to 23.6%, three-tenths more than in January.
Meanwhile, El Mundo reported that, according to data provided by Eurostat, throughout the European Union (EU) the unemployment rate in February stood at 10.2%, one-tenth above the previous month, and seven points more than in February 2011. …continue reading Eurozone Unemployment Figures Marks New Record
April 5th, 2012
Iberia has cancelled 156 flights scheduled for Easter Monday, the first of the 30 days of strikes pilots have called for on Mondays and Fridays from 9th April to 20th July in a continuation of their protest against the creation of the budget airline, Iberia Express.
In a statement, Iberia said it has taken measures to facilitate the exchange or refund of tickets to customers affected by the 9th April cancellations, the date most regions return from their Easter holidays, and that they are looking into providing alternative flights. …continue reading New Pilots’ Strikes Start Easter Monday
