They are indeed, and despite the same old optimists, there are no "brotes verdes" to be seen. It was said Spain won't meet a 2012 deficit target of below 6.3%, despite the EU moving the goalpost, extending the periods, and this year's target is 4.5%. Not a hope in hell of doing it. Rajoy has put all his measures in place, it's made no difference, it's even worse in fact. It's hard to know what they can try next. In the meantime, the old brown envelopes are still doing the rounds, they're all right, Jack.

Well I'm sure the perennial Spain knockers can choose what they want to believe.
Never mind the companies investing in Spain, never mind the increased tourist spending. Just a couple of indicators this week that certain parts of the population are feeling a little more confident about spending their money. anyone see the Kings Cup tie between Real and Barca mid-week? Despite it being a tournament that comes down the pecking order, and despite the high prices that tickets go for between those sides, did anyone see any empty seats at all?? Okay, so Madrid has a different economy. Here's another sign. Google put the Nexus back on sale in Spain (and many other countries world-wide) this week. They sold out in ten minutes....
Still, not as if the signs aren't there, is it???? Note - the trend is what's important.

Spain's current account sets all-time record http://ibexsalad.blogspot.co.uk/2013...me-record.html

I could all be true, but all the stats, event ticket sell outs etc, do not seem to filter down to those who are struggling.

I was listening to the radio the other day, a woman phoned in to say that work wanted to transfer her to another branch hundreds of kilometers away. she had a few kids, a working husband and it would have been impossible to keep the family together and accept the job.

So the choice is to accept and split the family or give up her job, which means no "pay off" and no dole.

It seems that a lot of national companies are using this tactic that way they get rid of staff, and it costs nothing, as the workers really do not have any other option but to leave, because in most cases relocation is not a option due to family situations.

And it seems that it is a practice that is being done by companies that are not particularly hit by the crisis and are considered "safe-ish jobs"

So I rather get the impression that people prefer to hang onto their money, than spend it because there are dirty dealing afoot.

There appears to have been increasing signs of unrest in recent weeks.

The peaceful demos having achieved nothing, many ppl. are getting increasingly angry, but it appears that the riot police are under orders to beat the crap out of them at every available opportunity.

I'm sure Mrs Merkel will be duly impressed.

Just today there have been disturbances in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities against corruption, all pretty low key stuff so far, but I fear it will get worse.
Over 60% of under 25's are now unemployed, guess they have nothing better to do. Jobs would be a good distraction but that's not about to happen anytime soon.
http://www.abc.es/espana/20130201/ab...302012022.html

Iberia are having 5 days of strikes in February because another 15% of staff are going.

But the upside is that the Kings Cup match mid week was full, no empty seats according to StevieDL.


So surely 15 percent of Iberia´s staff being booted out is of little importance.

an overmanned, overpaid company that admitted when they tied the knot with BA there was alot to sort out......

`

Not sure where you are going with this Stevie. News to me that the pound=euro was an issue between just the UK and Spain If it were the exchange rate would probably be about 1 pound = 1.90 euro (being generous). Do you really think the rates have anything to do with Spain

huh?

Think about it Stevie and I'm sure the penny will drop,....or should that be the euro.

I would have thought the last thing that Spain would want at this time is a strong Euro and a good few other eurozone countries. May be ok for the likes of Germany. I would imagine it is them that is giving it the current strength.

Sure it suits ze Krauts to have maximally strong Euro :
buys them energy , foodstuffs , raw materials etc , all on the cheap ! whereafter they export their , highly promoted , finished product worldwide at the top-dollar pricing
( except in US where any German ueberAuto is approx. a third cheaper than in EUrope or GB ) .
How long this import/export strategy can be maintained , with most of EUrozone already knocking on Heaven's door : is anyone's guess , even French admit banktrupcy now , Italy's gotta be next ? Let'sbear in mind that of the 28 EU-memberstates ( as of July 2013 ) the essentially solvent ones remain :
BeNelux , Sweden/Denmark/Finland , Germany/Oesterreich and GB = Grand Total of 9 in my money , bearing in mind tiny Lux'size & population , though !
Chew zis one over thoroughly , s.v.p.!

Even I figured that one out.

The point is J2 quoted something from Aggy, and asked me where I was going with that?
Now I know that she wouldn't query something from her tag-team collaborator (never seen on this board, yet many posters with a similar outlook often do argue over small points), so I'm assuming she quoted the wrong posting.
Unless of course she wants me to justify Aggy's post????
Either way, I'm not going to try and read J2's mind.