Eurozone inflation

PARIS: Eurozone indicators to be released in the coming week will show inflation edging higher on rising oil prices. But German economic confidence, French household spending and Italian consumer confidence are nevertheless expected to increase slightly. Eurozone final June inflation data and early indications on German inflation in July are both likely to be affected by higher oil prices. — AFP

Budget deficit

BERLIN: Germany’s budget deficit will reach four per cent of GDP this year, exceeding an earlier forecast by chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s government. The newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported on Sundayc iting a source close to the finance ministry reported finance minister Hans Eichel was preparing to give the new deficit estimate — up from an earlier forecast of 3.7 per cent — to the EC, which oversees the EU’s growth and stability pact. — AFP

IndiGo gets new CEO

NEW YORK: IndiGo, the latest entrant in India’s low-cost domestic civil aviation sector, has roped in Bruce Ashby, executive vice-president of US Airways, as CEO. Ashby, who had been with US Airways for over nine years, held a series of senior management positions in finance, planning, operations, corporate development and marketing divisions. — HNS

EU sugar reforms

BRUSSELS: Controversial European Commission plans to reform the sugar industry face a first major test on Monday, as EU farm ministers meet to debate them in Brussels with sugar growers protesting in the streets. The reforms became necessary after the WTO declared the EU policies. — AFP