BRUSSELS – Half the economies in the 17-nation eurozone are forecast to shrink this year, raising concerns that government austerity programs introduced to combat unsustainable debt levels are holding back growth. In its latest projections, the European Commission, the European Union’s executive body, forecast a 0.3 percent contraction in the eurozone economy for 2012, with […]

Economists say the level suggests the economy will see another strong month of hiring in February.