Breaking news

Inflation In Greece Increases To 3.1% In January, While Eurozone Sees 2.5% Rise Amid Energy Pressures

Inflationary pressures in the Eurozone showed a slight acceleration in January, with Greece seeing a more noticeable increase. According to preliminary data from Eurostat, Greece’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 3.1% year-on-year in January, up from 2.9% in December. Monthly, however, prices in Greece decreased by 0.7%.

Across the entire Eurozone, inflation edged up marginally to 2.5% annually, from 2.4% in December (following a 2.2% rise in November). This slight uptick came despite analysts predicting inflation would remain stable at 2.4%. Every month, the index dropped by 0.3%.

When excluding volatile food and energy prices, the underlying inflation rate in the Eurozone remained steady at 2.7% year-on-year. However, when comparing January to December, structural inflation showed a significant monthly decline of 1%.

Looking at individual components, inflation in services decreased slightly to 3.9% in January from 4%, while inflation in food, alcohol, and tobacco slowed more noticeably, falling to 2.3% from 2.6%. The price rise for non-energy goods remained steady at 0.5% annually.

Energy prices were the largest contributor to increased inflation, showing a sharp rise of 1.8% annually compared to just 0.1% in December. Monthly, energy prices rose by 2.9%.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

Uri Levine Course

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter