Menu

Italy has made significant progress in cutting regulatory costs, liberalising product markets and modernising its public administrations in recent years. But it must continue along the path of regulator reform to make its economy more competitive and speed up its recovery from the economic crisis, according to a new OECD report.

Most American workers say they derive satisfaction from their job and “live to work.” But only about a third say they have actively prepared for being sidelined due to an injury or illness, even though nearly nine out of 10 say they know there are steps they can take to protect themselves. These are some of the findings from a Yankelovich survey among full and part-time employees conducted for CIGNA.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27, the seasonally adjusted business investment rate fell compared with the previous quarter while the profit share grew. In the euro area, stocks decreased for the fourth quarter in a row.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27, the seasonally adjusted household saving rate was almost unchanged compared with the previous quarter, while the household investment rate decreased. In the euro area, household disposable income fell by 0.2% in real terms.

The impact of the widely publicized mortgage meltdown appears to have caused little change in borrower behavior during the past two years, according to a new Zillow Mortgage Marketplace survey(i) of 2,729 adults conducted on its behalf in April by Harris Interactive®. Borrowers report they are spending no more time researching a home loan today than they did in 2008 and those who obtained a loan in the past five years are soliciting fewer quotes - an average of three quotes versus four in 2008.

The euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in March 2010, the same as in February. It was 9.1% in March 2009. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.6% in March 2010, unchanged compared with February. It was 8.5% in March 2009.

Fitch Ratings says in a special report that prospects have improved for most emerging market (EM) banks in recent quarters as the global economic recovery gains momentum and many EMs are forecasted to return to solid growth in 2010. However, Fitch has significant asset quality concerns about banks in China in the medium term, following recent rapid loan expansion in that market, and many banking systems across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are still working through asset quality problems and adapting to funding constraints which have emerged during the crisis.

Most support expanding insurance, but they don’t know how the changes will affect them. The number one reason for that opposition: 81 percent think the law makes the wrong changes. And, 39 percent say the law would be “bad” for people like them, while 26 percent aren't sure.

Unemployment rates were higher in March than a year earlier in 321 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 41 areas, and unchanged in 10
areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Twenty- eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 3 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in March was 10.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 9.0 percent a year earlier.

Industrial profits in 24 regions realized 690.8 billion yuan in the first quarter, increased 102.6 percent year-on-year, narrowed 21.1 percentage points over first two months, which have picked up.