
The eyes of the government financial staff are focused on Greece’s meeting with the Fitch rating agency today. Some analysts are not ruling out an upgrade to ‘BB+’, although the odds are leaning towards the ratings agency waiting until national elections, which are scheduled to be held by July. The government has set a target for the upgrade within 2023 and analysts’ expectations put the time frame after the summer as the target. The main reason is the increased likelihood of consecutive elections due to the change in the electoral system, which increases electoral uncertainty and scenarios for a third round at the polls.
In the 2009 crisis, Greece was downgraded to “junk” and the rating agencies took the country out of the markets and rendered it unable to borrow. From then until today, despite Greece’s exit from the Memorandum, Greek bonds have not managed to reach their pre-crisis ratings. Since 2019, Greece has been upgraded 11 times.
The causes of inflation in Greece
Fitch has rated Greece to BB since 2020. It is two notches below investment grade, while last October it upgraded the country’s outlook from stable to positive. This move has fueled expectations that it may signal a possible upgrade in 2023. The strictest ratings agency is Moody’s, which is still set in November 2020 and on the double, then, upgrade to the Ba3 scale, three notches below investment grade. Since then, it has postponed the assessment four times. It is noted that Standard & Poor’s upgraded Greece by one notch to “BB+” with a stable outlook (one step before investment grade).
International analysts do not rule out the possibility of achieving investment grade before the elections. The key date is April 21st, when it will be S&P’s turn. Because the Greek economy is one step away (from the investment stage) in terms of the S&P and DBRS scales. For Fitch it is two notches and for Moody’s it is three away. That is, the overall rating is one notch below the minimum investment grade of BBB-.


Latest News

Istanbul Earthquake – Greek Prof. Concerned Major Quake Yet to Strike
Responding to concerns over whether a potential major quake in Istanbul could affect Greece, Papazachos was reassuring: “The fault extends as far as Lemnos and the Northern Sporades, but it doesn’t rupture all at once. An earthquake in Istanbul doesn’t have the capacity to directly affect Greek territory.”

Greece 4th Most Popular Summer Destination for Europeans
Southern Europe remains the top choice for Europeans at 41%, though down 8% from last year, likely due to rising temperatures and climate concerns.

Easter Sales Performance and the Source of €4–5 Million in Losses
Easter retail sales were relatively weak this year, with the only "real winners" being the livestock farmers who had lambs to sell.

Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.

Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region

Airbnb Greece – Initial CoS Ruling Deems Tax Circular Unlawful
The case reached the Council of State following annulment applications filed by the Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners (POMIDA)

Mitsotakis Unveils €1 Billion Plan for Housing, Pensioners, Public investments
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a new set of economic support measures, worth 1 billion euros, aiming to provide financial relief to citizens.