Retail sales across eurozone suffer biggest drop in 2.5 yearsFebruary 5, 2014 - 14:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Official figures show that retail sales across the eurozone suffered their biggest drop in over two and a half years in the crucial shopping month of December, according to the Associated Press. Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency, says retail sales across the bloc fell by 1.6 percent compared with the previous month. That was way worse than the 0.5 percent fall anticipated in the markets and represents the biggest monthly decline since May 2011. The figures will likely reinforce the pressure on the European Central Bank to further ease its monetary policy at its monthly meeting on Thursday. A broad range of economic indicators have shown that the recovery in the eurozone is failing to gain traction at a time when inflation rates are stubbornly low. 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 | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |