May 6, 2019

The eurozone steadied itself in Q1

Data out of Europe has gotten worse and worse as the year has gone on, but a pick-up in Chinese trade numbers and first quarter GDP appear to have steadied the eurozone as well.

The big picture: Consumer prices in the euro area rose 1.7% last month, the strongest since November, Bloomberg reports, with core inflation, rising to 1.2%. Both readings beat economists estimates, and put an exclamation point on the economic bloc's stronger-than-expected 0.4% increase in GDP during the first quarter. It was twice the pace of Q4's growth and also beat economists' expectations.

Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann said in a speech ahead of Friday's consumer price numbers that "much suggests that the economy is only experiencing a temporary weak phase and will pick up speed again after its soft patch."

Go deeper: Germany is Europe's most economically dangerous country

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Joann Muller

The new labor movement

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The coronavirus pandemic has had a big impact on working people, who are increasingly banding together to put pressure on employers and raise public awareness about health and safety issues they're facing on the job.

Why it matters: After years of declining union membership, a new labor movement is rising, amplified by the power of social media and fueled by concerns that workers deemed essential during the crisis are putting their lives at risk to ensure the well-being of others.

Go deeper4 mins ago - Economy & Business

Bob Herman

Medicaid will be a coronavirus lifeline

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Medicaid will be a lifeline for droves of Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Why it matters: Medicaid has long been the safety net that catches people during hard times, but a crisis of this magnitude will call upon the program — and strain states' budgets — like never before.

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Margaret Talev

Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index: Rich sheltered, poor shafted amid virus

Data: Axios/Ipsos survey. Margin of error ±2.8 points for full sample. Margin for subgroups ranges from ±5 to ±9 points. Chart: Naema Ahmed/Axios

The coronavirus is spreading a dangerous strain of inequality.

Better-off Americans are still getting paid and are free to work from home, while the poor are either forced to risk going out to work or lose their jobs.

Driving the news: This sobering reality emerges from Week 3 of our Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

Go deeper35 mins ago - Health