"The mood was darkened further with confirmation that the eurozone was now in the grip of recession for the first time since the creation of the single currency in 1999." The Times.

From what I read on here many feel it started some time ago in Italy.

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From what I read on here many feel it started some time ago in Italy.

"On here" on the TimesonLIne, or on EiI?
If the article you talk about is this I don't think Italy has even been quoted.
And anyway I strongly doubt Italy is such an economic powerhouse to start a continental recession....

Here as in Expats, rather than The Times.

Right paper - different article though! But many people on this forum feel that times have been tough in Italy since the euro, or that is my perception from threads I have been reading over the last two years anyway. Friends here in Florence also feel everything doubled in price over night when the euro arrived. From when I started visiting Italy 16 years ago I have noticed an equalling in the cost of goods here compared to the cost of the same in the UK. When I first started coming over I could normally guarantee like for like would cost less here by up to 50%. Now, many things cost much less in the UK like for like!

The Euro is a BLESSING and the hardships it generated are the bitter pill we needed.
If anything, having a common currency with other big nations (and the corresponding set of rules) will force Italy to get itself sorted.
The hard way, if the soft way won't do.

Alyson, I don't know how good your Italian is, but I suggest you should read this.
In a nutshell: "having the same currency as the Germans, requires being as efficient and organized as the Germans".
A "drink or drown" situation that'll do us a lot of good.

Italy had a recessions in 2003 and 2004 as well. Individual countries within the EU can have a recession without the whole eurozone sliding into recession. The later phenomenon is happening now for the first time since the Euro's introduction in 1999.