UK retail sales growth falls to eight-month low, public finances weak

(Reuters) - British retail sales grew in July at the slowest annual rate since November of last year, while the government failed to make much of an inroad into public borrowing, data showed on Thursday.

Faltering Germany casts cloud over fragile euro zone

(Reuters) - Germany's faltering economy has cast further doubt over the euro zone's prospects for recovery this year, with no other big country strong enough to pick up the slack. Since late last year, the 18 countries using the euro have been climbing steadily out of a two-year recession.

Britain's economic prospects brightest in more than a decade, survey finds

Britain's economic prospects are the brightest they have been in more than a decade and optimism among consumers has surged to its best level in nine years, according to separate reports published on Friday.

Ireland’s Rating Raised by Moody’s as Debt Burden Eases

Ireland’s rating was raised for the second time in less than six months by Moody’s Investors Service as the economy stabilizes and concern that the euro-region may be under threat eases.

EU loses AAA rating in S&P downgrade

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's incited the ire of European Union officials on Friday when it snatched away the region's top AAA rating, citing tensions between member states and a deterioration in their overall financial health.

Euro-Zone Business, Consumer Confidence Rises to Two-Year High

Businesses and consumers in the euro zone were the most optimistic in over two years in October as better economic conditions lifted the mood for the sixth month running.

Euro-Zone Consumer Mood Continues to Lighten

Consumers in the 17 countries that share the euro continued to become less pessimistic in September, but with unemployment still close to record highs and wages growing more slowly than inflation, that is unlikely to herald a sharp pickup in spending.

Euro-Zone Wages Lag Inflation

Workers in some of the euro zone's hardest-hit economies suffered steep falls in pay in real terms in the second quarter, as earnings growth across the 17-nation currency bloc sank to a near three-year low.

Euro-Zone Unemployment Falls Slightly

The number of people unemployed in the euro zone fell in July for the second month in a row, adding to tentative signs that a modest recovery under way in the currency bloc's economy is starting to erode its sky-high levels of joblessness.

Euro-Zone Workers Increasingly Forced to Go Part-Time

Growing numbers of workers in the euro zone are unable to work as many hours as they would like, official figures showed Friday, casting new light on the grim outlook for consumers that could depress the region's growth prospects for some time to come.

France warned on growth goals, fiscal targets in doubt

PARIS: France's economy could shrink this year and miss future government forecasts, the country's budget watchdog and the IMF warned on Tuesday, casting doubt on Paris's pledge to cut its deficit below 3 percent of output.

Eurozone crisis demands one banking policy, one fiscal policy – and one voice

It had all started to look quite promising. The US was picking up, China had avoided a hard landing and in Japan the early signs from the new government's anti-deflation approach were encouraging.

French Economy to Stay Stalled in First Half, Insee Predicts

The French economy will extend two years of stagnation in the first half as consumers hold off on spending and companies cut investments, national statistics office Insee predicted.

Italy 2012 wage inflation lowest since 1983, half consumer price inflation rate

Italian wages in 2012 grew at less than half the rate of consumer price inflation, data showed on Monday, helping to explain the worst slump in consumer spending for more than half a century.

Italy's Monti opens door to seeking new term

ROME (Reuters) - Two days after stepping down, Mario Monti announced on Sunday he would consider seeking a second term as Italian prime minister if approached by allies committed to backing his austere brand of reforms.

UK retail sales flat in November

UK retail sales failed to grow in November, adding to fears that consumers are reining in spending ahead of Christmas.

UK economy to see return to growth, says Item Club

The UK economy should enjoy an "Indian summer" after a poor first half of the year, says a leading forecaster.

Republic of Ireland falls back into recession

The Republic of Ireland fell back into recession in the last three months of 2011, official figures have shown.