22 December, 2007

Italian News (8)

The news according to Italians.......

The Consumer association Codacons says that the price of one kilo of spaghetti, which had been stable from 2004 to 2006, jumped 27% this year. Pasta sales have fallen by 3.9%.

In a recent poll Italians came out the least happy people in Western Europe. Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome and Prime Ministerial hopeful said the country had ''lost a little of its will for the future. There is more fear than hope''.

Consumer confidence in Italy fell in December compared to November.

Prices are rising faster than at any time for the last three years

Petrol is the most expensive in Europe

It emerged this week that Spain has now overtaken Italy in terms of per capita GDP.


Now the good news…

The UN has changed the calculation of per capita GDP and Spain hasn’t overtaken Italy at all

The government has survived yet another vote of confidence, this time to get its budget approved. This will raise minimum pensions, improve road and rail infrastructure and give the poorest Italians a one-off 150-euro bonus. The cost of government will be cut and future administrations will only be allowed 12 ministers. Next year’s budget deficit will be 2.2%, in line with EU guidelines

There has been a surge in Italian exports which will cut the trade deficit from 18.6 billion euros in 2006 to 7.6 billion euros. Italy has exported more than the UK or Canada.

Italy's tax revenue from January to November 2007 was up 10.1% on the same period of the previous year, reaching 451.2 bln euros.

Italian researchers have found a way of using the Salmonella bacteria to treat melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Some six million Italians will be using their cars to travel during the Christmas and New Year's holidays which will translate into two million vehicles on the national highways (good news if you’re not one of them)

Italy’s fine. Just don’t ask an Italian.

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