Record sales of portable navigation devices 9. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot Never before there were so many portable navigation devices (PND) sold in Europe as in the year 2008. 18.1 million units of such devices were sold last year which was an increase by 3 million units or 20% as compared to the previous year. In Germany this increase amounted to even 22% last year. With …
GDP down by 1.5% in the EU 7. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot In the fourth quarter 2008 GDP fell by 1.5% on the third quarter in both the Eurozone and the EU27. In the third quarter last year the respective changes had been -0.2% and -0.3% respectively on the second quarter. In comparison with the fourth quarter in 2007 GDP decreased by 1.3% in both European regions. …
Retail trade turnover down by 1.3 percent 6. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot According to the Federal Statistical Office, turnover generated in the German retail trade fell by 1.2% and 1.3% in nominal and real terms respectively in January 2009 as compared to January last year. Particularly hit were internet trade and mail order business where turnover dropped by 7.5% (nominally) and 8.2% (really). As compared to December …
Key interest rate hit historic low of 1.50 percent 6. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot The key interest rate for the Euro was lowered by 0.5% to 1.50 percent by the European Central Bank (ECB) yesterday which brought the rate to its lowest level since the Euro was first introduced in 1999. The new rate will be applicable from March 11th.
Internet use suffering from distrust of people 5. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot Many internet users do not carry out online shopping or banking, because they are afraid of security holes in the internet. According to the German Association for Information Management, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM), one in six German internet users even do not carry out any internet transactions at all. About 16 million avoid online …
5.6 less turnover in wholesale trade in January 5. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot According to the Federal Statistical Office, turnover generated in the German wholesale trade business was down by 10.7% in nominal terms in January this year as compared to January last year. The last such drop in turnover had been registered in May 2002. In real terms turnover fell by 5.6%. In comparison with December 2008, …
Online advertising set to grow in the year 2009 4. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot The German association for the digital economy (BVDW) is optimistic that online advertising is going to grow this year despite the economic crisis. OVK is predicting an increase of the gross advertising volume by about 10% which would correspond to a turnover of about 4 billion Euros generated by the end of the year 2009.
Wholesale trade prices down by 5.9 percent 4. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot According to the Federal Statistical Office, wholesale trade selling prices were on average down by 5.9% in January 2009 as compared to January 2008. The last such drop in prices had been registered in March 1987 (-6.1%). In comparison with December 2008 prices fell by 0.4%. In January this year, data processing devices, peripheral computer …
Internet radio and TV increasingly popular in Germany 4. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot According to the Federal Statistical Office, internet radio and TV have become extremely popular in Germany. Thus, 14.2 million people in Germany listened to radio or watched TV via the internet in the first quarter of 2008. As compared to the same quarter in 2007 (10.3 million), this corresponded to an increase by about 38%. …
Inflation rate in Eurozone at 1.1 percent 2. March 2009 by Thomas Jannot In January 2009 inflation in the Eurozone (EZ16) amounted to just 1.1% following 1.6% in December 2008 and 3.2% in January 2008. In the EU27 annual inflation in January this year stood at 1.7% following 2.2% in December last year and 3.4% in January 2008.