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Greece Faces Mounting Social Strain as 2.8 Million Residents Risk Poverty

                                        Athens, Greece Greece is once again confronting a troubling social reality: an estimated 2.8 million people—more than a quarter of the country’s population—are now at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Despite signs of economic recovery in recent years, the benefits have not reached everyone, leaving many households struggling to keep up with rising living costs, stagnant wages, and persistent unemployment. The latest figures highlight widening inequality, particularly among young people, single‑parent families, and the long‑term unemployed. Inflation has intensified the pressure, eroding purchasing power and pushing vulnerable groups closer to the edge. Social organizations warn that the situation is becoming unsustainable, with increasing demand for food aid, housing support, and community services. While the government ha...

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US holiday retail sales grow 3.1%, down from prior year -Mastercard



US retail sales rose 3.1% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, rounding up a majority of the holiday sales for retailers, as shoppers looked for last-minute Christmas deals amid big promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Tuesday.

The increase is lower than the 3.7% growth Mastercard forecast in September, and has slumped from last year’s 7.6% as higher interest rates and inflation pressured consumer spending. Sales in the apparel and restaurant categories rose 2.4% and 7.8%, respectively, during the holiday shopping period, according to the Mastercard Spending Pulse report, while sales of electronics fell 0.4%.

Ecommerce sales grew at a slower pace of 6.3% from last year’s 10.6% as the popularity of online shopping came off pandemic highs, the report showed.

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