Eurozone inflation falls to 0.7% in OctoberOctober 31, 2013 - 17:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Eurozone inflation in October fell to 0.7%, its lowest since February 2010, thanks to a fall in energy costs, according to BBC News. Official figures also showed the currency bloc's unemployment at another record high in September. The figures increase pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut interest rates further. Core inflation, which does not include energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, also fell from an annual rate of 1.4% to 1.1%. The jobless rate in the 17 euro-using countries was unchanged from August's figure, although that month's rate was revised up to 12.2%. However, the Eurostat agency said that 60,000 more Europeans were unemployed than in the month before. Young Europeans, aged between 15 and 24, have been most affected by the eurozone crisis, particularly in the worst-hit countries, such as Spain and Greece. The unemployment rate in Germany, the strongest economy among the 17 nations, fell slightly to 5.2% after holding steady for the previous three months. France, the second largest economy, and Italy, the next largest, saw a small rise in their jobless rates. European leaders have made tackling unemployment, a key cause of political unrest, a high priority. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. |