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Government debt increased to 93.9% of GDP in euro area
At the end of the first quarter of 2014, the government debt1 to GDP ratio2 in the euro area3 (EA18) stood at 93.9%, compared with 92.7% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2013. This increase comes after two consecutive quarters of decrease. In the EU283, the ratio increased from 87.2% to 88.0%. Compared with the first quarter of 2013, the government debt to GDP ratio rose in both the euro area (from 92.5% to 93.9%) and the EU28 (from 86.2% to 88.0%). At the end of the first quarter of 2014, securities other than shares accounted for 79.3% of euro area and for 80.9% of EU28 general government debt, loans for 17.9% ... (full story)