Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Italy slides back into recession

    MILAN (AP) — Italy's economy, the eurozone's third-largest, slid into recession in the fourth quarter of last year due to a drop in industrial activity and a stagnant services sector, the national statistics agency said Wednesday.

    The economy contracted by a quarterly 0.7 percent, ISTAT said, marking the second straight quarterly decline — the technical definition of a recession.

    For the overall year, the Italian economy still managed to eke out 0.4 percent growth, compared with 1.4 percent in 2010.

    Italy is struggling to escape Europe's sovereign debt crisis with measures to cut spending and spur growth. Ministers were working Wednesday on new reforms to the labor market.

    The government of technocrats under the leadership of economist Mario Monti came came to power last year, when worries grew that Silvio Berlusconi's administration had lost investors' confidence.

    Susanna Camusso, the head of the powerful Cgil union confederation, said the downward trend in economic activity must be reversed to protect jobs.

    "Every quarter more of recession will tighten the screws more" on employment in Italy, Camusso said.

    The preliminary estimate will be revised to include more data, including expenditures, to be released next month.

    Analysts at UniCredit bank are forecasting a drag on exports, a contraction in consumption and a negative impact on production from a series of winter storms.

     

    17 comments

    • Arnold  •  3 mths ago
      So is this a surprise? The countries of the world are all fluff, unsupported where it matters. Just like a building with no support that gets too heavy they're imploding, collapsing in on themselves from the debt.
    • antonka  •  Victoria, Canada  •  3 mths ago
      march to september must be a danger time to visit and be in EU this year...its is ready for the big earthquake hits in every country
    • Diver  •  New York, New York  •  3 mths ago
      They could save a few dollars by not putting their seismologists on trial for manslaughter for not predicting earthquakes.
    • Monty  •  Jacksonville, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      You would think that people who believe in socialism would realize it has NEVER worked. It hasn't worked in the past and its not working right now in Europe.
      • Freedom 3 mths ago
        and capitalism is working?
      • Harry Kneecaps 3 mths ago
        They always miss that part Freedom. They also forget its China - a communist socialism - we turn to when we need money.
      • The heretic 3 mths ago
        Can'!t there are to many communists and socialists on welfare in this country. Watch and see if Italians don't start running to the USA. Then the welfare will have to be split further. Add some Greeks also. We need more diversity and let them all get two dollars a month and no more. AND they have to pay the hospital for having an illegal kid.
    • Vlad the Inhaler  •  Vulcan, Michigan  •  3 mths ago
      They need to export some high quality and authentic pizza chains to the rest of the world, much like we do with Domino's and Pizza Hut.
    • smart  •  Sunnyvale, California  •  3 mths ago
      Icelandic lesson for the whole world
      ARTICLE KEEP TELL A FRIEND

      Icelanders made the government, which sanctioned under the dictation of the world of finance, to impoverish the Icelandic nation according to the script currently "copy" by Greece, gave a set to resign!

      Iceland's main banks were nationalized, and the inhabitants decided unanimously to declare the insolvency of the debt that was incurred by private banks in the UK and the Netherlands.

      There has also to establish a National Assembly in order to transcribe the constitution. And all this in a peaceful manner. It's a real revolution against the government, which led to the current collapse of Iceland.

      Are you sure you're wondering why these events have not been widely publicized? The answer to this question leads to another question. What would happen if the rest of European nations took the example of Iceland?

      Here is a brief chronology of the facts:

      September 2008: the nationalization of the most important bank in Iceland, Glitnir Bank, with the result that stock market crashes and their action is announced bankrupt the country.

      January 2009: Protests cause people to parliament Prime Minister Geir Haarde resigned and the whole social-democratic government and early elections.

      The economic situation is still bad and the parliament presented a bill that would have private debt to private banks (to the British and Dutch banks) is 3,5 billion Icelandic blame the family for 15 years at a rate of 5.5 percent.

      In response to this second stage is a peaceful revolution:

      Start of 2010: the inhabitants of occupied squares and streets again, demanding ad referendum to the foregoing.

      February 2010: President Olafur Grimsson Veto the bill proposed by the parliament and announce a national referendum in which 93 percent of voters in favor of defaults on that debt.

      In the meantime, the government ordered a judicial inquiry to determine those responsible for bringing to the existing crisis. Are issued the first arrest warrants for the bankers, who wisely fled in advance of Iceland.

      In this crisis moment is called the assembly to write a new constitution before considering science as "an adapted lesson." To this end, 25 people are chosen free from party affiliation of the 522 who attended the vote (the selection criterion of the "25" - apart from not having any books of the party - was the age of majority and to present 30 signatures in support of their person). This new constitutional council has started work in February, which is to end the presentation and submission to a vote in the forthcoming elections of its original "Magna Carta".

      Has anyone heard about it all in the European or USA media? Do we have seen, at least one picture of these events in any television program? Of course - NO!

      In this way, Icelanders have given a lesson of direct democracy, national independence and monetary policy across Europe peacefully opposing the System. A minimum of what we can do is be aware of what had happened, and make it a "legend" passed from mouth to mouth. So far we still have the ability to bypass news media-manipulation serving the economic interests of large transnational banks and corporations. Not lost this opportunity and told the other, in future, be able to take similar action if necessary
    • The heretic  •  Shreveport, Louisiana  •  3 mths ago
      No kidding! I thought they were on the right track. Guess we are next to be downgraded again. No more money for the government I the tax payer have run out. Think I'll go on welfare. Can get more money than if I work and pay taxes.
      • Harry Kneecaps 3 mths ago
        Pretty sad when you can make more on welfare than at a job. Thank the republicans for your low wage job. And dont blame the welfare recipients. If you were willing to work for slave wages you made your own choice.
    • Yorick Hunt  •  3 mths ago
      Vada a Bordo, Cazzo!
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        American media try everything to discredit Italians, in this picture this woman is not even Italian but an homeless (gypsy)
        italy despise the big debt is the third biggest economy in euro,third largest gold reserve in the world,8.5% unemployment,second largest manufactory industry in europe and second largest exporter in europe. italy make up 17% of the european economy
        why american media are never report the all picture with good and bad of Italy? maybe is the famous "financial speculation??
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        america have 16 trillions $ debt, soon china will call you for come back to the ship.lol
    • Mark  •  3 mths ago
      maybe once the whole world is fkn broke-every 1 will wake the hell up and understand why you can not allow evil corupt jew banksters to run monetary policies or use a privatized central banking system-time for every country to take a stand gainst the criminal monetary policies instilled on every 1 arounf=d the world-you would probably wake up a lot sooner if you actually understood that the worthless paper they give us for pay is just that -as long as they are able to manipulate and control inflation and deflation
      • William 3 mths ago
        Agree---well said !
    • Yorick Hunt  •  3 mths ago
      Wow the Costa Concordia really did some damage!
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        American media try everything to discredit Italians, in this picture this woman is not even Italian but an homeless (gypsy)
        italy despise the big debt is the third biggest economy in euro,third largest gold reserve in the world,8.5% unemployment,second largest manufactory industry in europe and second largest exporter in europe. italy make up 17% of the european economy
        why american media are never report the all picture with good and bad of Italy? maybe is the famous "financial speculation??
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        america have 16 trillions $ debt, and you didn't even have costa concordia,lol
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        instead you have oabama
    • Max Fubar  •  3 mths ago
      Why does the new Italian navy use glass bottomed ships? So they can see the old Italian navy.
    • Ultrabrut1  •  3 mths ago
      See Greece. The EU is a joke.
    • Mike in Missouri  •  3 mths ago
      Monti !
    • Ben  •  3 mths ago
      Bad time to be losing that precious Iranian oil. The should demand that Israel find some oil for them since they are the ones who benefit from sanctions.
    • Mike  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      Any country that spends more than they take in is in dire danger of having a recession, and even a depression. Balance budgets, stop give away programs, and reward those who work and support themselves and their families.
    • Joseph  •  3 mths ago
      Italy slides back into recession.....sorta' like the Costa Concordia slidin' into the ocean, huh?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Berlin, Germany  •  3 mths ago
      American media try everything to discredit Italians, in this picture this woman is not even Italian but an homeless (gypsy)
      italy despise the big debt is the third biggest economy in euro,third largest gold reserve in the world,8.5% unemployment,second largest manufactory industry in europe and second largest exporter in europe. italy make up 17% of the european economy
      why american media are never report the all picture with good and bad of Italy? maybe is the famous "financial speculation??
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
    Loading...