GfK: Romanians More Optimistic Than Most Europeans About Income And Economic Growth
Romanians expect slight growth in salaries and prices, with a favorable impact on consumption, and the current presidential election campaign sparks more optimism for economic growth, in contracts to expectations across the EU, a GfK study has found.
“In 2013, the Romanian economy grew 3.5%. It is unlikely this growth rate continues in 2014. As always during election campaigns, consumers show more optimism and expect to benefit from economic growth in the next few months. At minus 3.7 points, expectations for the state of the economy continue to be negative, but are more optimistic than at the beginning of the year, according to the findings of the GfK Consumer Climate Europe study for the third quarter 2014.
The findings of the GfK Consumer Climate Europe are taken from a consumer survey carried out in all countries of the European Union on behalf of the European Commission. Approximately 40,000 individuals, representing the adult population in the EU, are surveyed on a monthly basis in 28 countries. (Jurnalul National)
CFR Marfa 2014 Revised Budget Keeps Revenue At RON1.117B, Cuts Pretax Profit By Some RON60M
The revised budget of revenue and expenses for 2014 of Romanian freight railway carrier CFR Marfa envisages revenue of RON1.117 billion and expenses of RON1.093 billion, higher by RON58 million, due to delay in the start of mass layoffs.
The company’s revised budget for 2014 also stipulates lower pretax profit of RON23.69 million, salary costs of RON232.9 million and costs with severance pay of RON13.5 million.
By comparison, CFR Marfa’s 2014 budget, approved by the government in November 2013, envisaged revenue of RON1.117 billion, expenses of RON1.035 billion and a pretax profit of RON82 million. It also envisaged salary costs of RON201.1 million and costs with severance pay of RON16.8 million.
The Romanian Government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to subject CFR Marfa to an aggressive restructuring process and continue the privatization with a strategic investor. (Puterea)
Hrebenciuc Promised Support For PSD Presidency To Dan Sova
Viorel Hrebenciuc, deputy of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), promised Dan Sova he would offer his support for the presidency of PSD to the detriment of Liviu Dragnea and Valeriu Zgonea, in exchange for abrogating an incriminating paragraph in a law.
According to the National Anticorruption Department (DNA), Viorel Hrebenciuc had talks with senator Dan Sova on October 17, promising his support for the presidency of the party if Sova initiates a legislative proposition on amnesty and pardon over certain penalties and if he talks to the justice minister to abrogate a paragraph in a law which incriminates him in a retrocession case.
The talks between the two politicians were presented by investigators in the new file opened against Viorel Hrebenciuc. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Hotel Tax 20% Higher By Taxing Breakfast In Offers
Authorities want the payment of a hotel tax not only for accommodation but also for the breakfast included in the offers, which triggers a 20% increase in the hotel tax, impacting the sector’s profitability, Radu Enache, head of the Federation of the Hotel Industry in Romania (FIHR), said.
“In the Romania of 2014, almost six years from the beginning of the international financial crisis, the hotel industry is struggling to survive. By including the breakfast in the accommodation pack, the authorities created the premises for the interpretation of another tax that the hotel industry has to pay, namely the hotel tax,” Enache said.
The Finance Ministry representatives stated the situation is currently under analysis. (Curierul National)
Simona Halep Defeats Eugenie Bouchard In Opening Night Of WTA Finals
Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, 4th in WTA rankings, defeated Monday Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, 6-2, 6-3, in the opening match of Red Group at WTA Finals in Singapore.
“I played really well and am really happy to have found my game again. I played aggressive at the right times and hit some winners,” Halep said in her on-court interview. “She is a great player and is very young and will definitely be at the top for a long time,” she added.
According to WTA official website, Simona Halep made a flying start at the WTA Finals Singapore, brushing aside the challenge of Eugenie Bouchard in little over an hour. (Evenimentul Zilei)