Due to rise in consumer confidence, people have an optimistic view towards the improvements in economic situation in the next six months. A new EU report has said that 135,000 new jobs could be created between now and 2020 in the renewable energy sector in Spain. Even banks try to improve the situation; Ibanesto and ING have both reduced their interest rates for savers.

Consumer confidence at a year high in Spain

Consumer confidence in Spain has risen to its highest level for a year, with more than half of those questioned considering the economic situation will improve in the next six months.
The number for May, drawn up by the Official Credit Institute (ICO), is at 63.8, its highest level since April 2008. The institute says they may even revise upwards the downturn forecast in the GDP for the second quarter.
It comes after the fall in unemployment for May, the first fall seen in 14 months which was announced on Tuesday.
A new EU report has said that as many as 135,000 new jobs could be created between now and 2020 in the renewable energy sector in Spain.

A new survey from Transparency Internacional has shown that most Spaniards think businesses and political parties are the most corrupt areas of society. The survey shows that concern about bad practice has increased in line with the crisis.

Iberia airlines has said that its merger plans with British Airways remain in place, although the CEO, Fernando Conte, speaking ahead of a shareholders meeting, has not ruled out deals with other companies. He also admitted that the talks had been ‘impacted’ by the crisis.

Ibanesto and ING have both reduced their interest rates for savers. The new rates are 3% and 3.1% respectively, with both banks cutting 0.5% off their rate of return. The reductions have both been done very discretely, in comparison to the statements launched when interest rates offered increase. Savers take note.

The Ministry for Employment has approved an ERE temporary redundancy application from Arcelor Mittal for 12,000 of its workers. The steel maker has 17 factories in Spain and under the agreement workers will be off until the end of the year, or possibly June 2010 for the deal which will still pay them 90% of their wages. Each factory will be able to be flexible on the number of redundancies according to demand.

The Spanish Minister for Industry, Miguel Sebastián, is to travel to Germany and Russia to defend the future of the Opel car plant in Figueruelas, saying he wants to obtain information first hand. Sebastián gave the news during an appearance in the Senate on Tuesday saying he will be leaving on Thursday.

And finally,
As Spain turns off analogue TV transmissions and goes TDT terrestrial digital from April 2010, the grand part of the analogue frequencies freed up in the 790 to 862 MHz band are to be used for new services such as mobile internet to reach rural areas. Industry Minister, Miguel Sebastián, said the government wanted to close the digital divide now suffered in rural areas.