Spain’s exports have played a central role in lifting the country out of the two year recession. That’s according to data released by Madrid’s Economy Ministry. There was an 8.3 percent increase in September from a year earlier. <br /><br />The news comes two years to the day Mariano Rajoy became prime minister who is counting on foreign sales to generate 0.7 percent growth next year.<br /><br />“I want to thank the Spanish people because I know many of them are living through difficult times. We have been forced to make difficult decisions. As well as the ‘thank you’ I want to tell everyone that things are a little better and you can have total and absolute certainty we will overcome this situation,” said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.<br /><br />The country’s exports have been boosted by Spain’s gains in competitiveness and an increase in the number of exporting companies the country’s Trade Ministry said.<br /><br />Meanwhile national statistics released on Wednesday show the average annual household income fell 3.5 percent from 2011 to its lowest in six years, almost a 3,000 euro drop from its height in 2008.
