“France is to freeze spending on defence, higher education and research in a frantic bid to meet European Union deficit targets this year, tightening fiscal policy yet further as the country slides into deep slump. The severity of the downturn has caught officials by surprise. Markit’s survey data for French manufacturing and services fell to 42.3 in February, plunging at the fastest rate since the financial crisis in early 2009. Anything less than 50 signals contraction. Markit warned that the country may be tipping into a ‘downward spiral’ as sliding confidence causes businesses to delay spending.”
Related posts:
NYT: 'Close the N.S.A.’s Back Doors'
The European Parliament Threatens To Break Up Google
Fantasy football: Legal questions arise as gambling games grow
Syrian rebels used Sarin nerve gas, not Assad’s regime: U.N. official
Prodi: Germany should seize opportunity to re-conquer Europe
Border Patrol Recorded Joking About Children Sobbing For Their Parents
India to Intensify Scrutiny of Citizens' Social Media, Emails
Ron Paul Gets Cut Off During Interview On Syria With Wolf Blitzer
No more beauty contests for kids in France
New Irish REITs Gain Interest From Investors Including Soros, Paulson
Greek teen’s death after argument with bus ticket inspector sparks anti-austerity protests
Gun-control demagoguery is a lethal weapon
Bitcoin needs to scale by a factor of 1000 to compete with Visa. Here’s how
ICE whistleblower gets a visit from Homeland Security goons during TV interview
India & Iran drop dollar in oil trade to bypass US sanctions