Retail sales fell by 1.4% during the first three months of 2017 as shoppers were put off by rising prices. It was the biggest quarterly fall in sales since 2010. * UK growth expected to slow to 0.4% in Q1 * French PMIs: strong growth signalled in April * French shares fall, euro slips from three-week high as vote looms * Eurozone surveys indicated stronger growth in Q2 2.14pm BST WALL STREET IS EXPECTED TO OPEN SLIGHTLY HIGHER: US Opening Calls:#DOW 20604 +0.11%#SPX 2358 +0.08%#NASDAQ 5451 +0.17%#IGOpeningCall 2.04pm BST GREECE’S PRIMARY SURPLUS HIT 3.9% LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO THE COUNTRY’S STATISTICS SERVICE, ELSTAT. IT WAS WELL AHEAD OF EXPECTATIONS. Helena Smith reports from Athens Here in Greece, news of the better-than-expected fiscal performance is being seen as a huge bonus by the leftist-led government, as Euclid Tsakalotos, the Greek finance minister, prepares for crucial talks on the sidelines of the IMF’s annual spring meeting in Washington. Continue reading...
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