Therefore, our policy stance must be determined in light of the medium-term forecast for real activity and inflation, as well as the risks to that forecast.

NPR: Economic Swoon to Continue, Bernanke Says

Financial-statement-analysis-of-small-businesses Manta, an online directory and network for small and medium businesses, this week said new business activity in the third quarter was up 12 percent from a year earlier.

FORBES: Are things getting better for small business?

That change in trend was reinforced by the slowdown in takeover activity, which had tended to be focused on small and medium-sized companies.

ECONOMIST: Looking for growth stocks when there is not much growth

The reforms also include measures to stimulate economic activity and improve competitiveness in Spain, such as an expansion of tax cuts for small and medium sized companies, and measures to make it easier to set up new firms.

BBC: Spain passes tobacco tax increase

The test, first introduced by the last Labour government and being rolled out by the coalition, can also place applicants into a "work-related activity group", where they will be expected to take steps to prepare themselves for work in the medium to long term.

BBC: Benefit tests 'not money driven'