Natural gas supplier and trader UAB Litgas calculated that when the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal was being tested, only 60% of the budget allotted for this was spent – EUR 7.5 of 12.7 million.

Use of robotic technologies, microprocessors, 3D printers and nanotechnologies will create tremendous economic value in our future industry and will radically change productivity, distribution of income, our welfare and environment, said Lithuanian Minister of Economy Evaldas Gustas on Thursday during a conference at the Integrated Science, Studies and Business Centre (Valley) Santaka in Kaunas city.

A draft EU law to make the benchmarks used to price EU citizens' mortgages, loans and bonds more trustworthy was backed by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Tuesday. The text (lead MEP Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, ALDE, NL) aims to clean up the benchmark-setting process, by curbing conflicts of interest like those that led to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) rigging scandals of recent years.

The amount of milk produced in the EU will for the first time in three decades be determined by market forces only after European milk quotas ended on 1 April. The quotas were introduced in 1984 when production outstripped demand with the aim of putting an end to Europe's "milk lakes and butter mountains". It is hoped that by scrapping the quotas, Europe's milk producers are able to supply fast-growing markets in Asia and Africa. However, some farmers worry it could lead to price volatility.

Retail turnover (including VAT) of the Apranga Group amounted to EUR 14.4 million in March 2015, and has increased by 8.2% comparing to March 2014.

With declining export and weakening economic growth, household consumption is becoming an ever increasing factor of economic growth. Having reached its peak ever since late 2007, consumer confidence provides hope that the negative influence of declining export to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) may be at least partially counterbalanced by growing consumption. On the other hand, it seams that Lithuanians will tend to save more this year, says Chief Economist of Swedbank, Vaiva Seckute.

Siauliu Bankas introduces its renewed brand alongside with a slogan Our Strength is in Our Roots. At the same time, Siauliu Bankas sets an ambitious goal of becoming one of the most valued brands in Lithuania.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Lithuania's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'A-'. The outlooks are stable. The issue ratings on Lithuania's senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds have also been affirmed at 'A-'.

Statistics Lithuania informs that, based on provisional data, in February 2015, the turnover (VAT excluded) of retail trade enterprises* amounted to EUR 601.4 million; against January, it decreased by 4.3% at constant prices (seasonally and working day adjusted – grew by 1%).

Tackling tax evasion should be a top EU priority. EU countries and the European Commission should play a leading role in discussing how to fight tax fraud and aggressive tax planning in the OECD and other relevant fora, says Parliament in its resolution on tax, voted on Wednesday.