BUSINESS
EU economies growth setback
May 16, 2018 - Economic growth across Europe took a dent in the first three months of 2018, while industrial production in the eurozone rose 0.5 percent in March, after three consecutive monthly declines.
Eurostat numbers released Tuesday showed that first-quarter growth in Germany, the Netherlands and Britain all slowed more than forecast in the three months through March, while the euro-area expansion slid from 0.7 percent to 0.4 percent.
The beast from the East, strikes, capacity constraints and even a flu outbreak hit the three months through March. While Europe’s European Central Bank policymakers are putting a brave face on things, the corporate world has pointed to pressure from a stronger euro -- up 13 percent since January 2017 -- and oil prices at their highest since 2014.