国际英语新闻：Greek economy shrinks by 2.5% in first quarter

Also imports of products and services dropped by 6.6 percent and exports of goods and services by 0.5 percent in the first quarter this year compared to same period of 2009 .

Besides the figures, Greek citizens already feel the increased burden on their shoulders due to the crisis and the austerity measures this year.

As the agency announced the latest data on the national economy, hundreds of pensioners staged a rally in front of the Health Ministry on Wednesday noon, protesting that the government measures strangle their households.

Low income pensioners denounced cutbacks on their pensions and hikes in taxes and medicines that "kill the social security system, " as they had written on banners. According to estimates the average Greek pensioner loses two month pensions on an annual basis due to the cutbacks on income and increases of the living cost.

Pensioners chanted slogans such as "IMF get out, we are not paying your crisis" and promised to be back on the streets soon. They will take part in the forthcoming general strike Greek labor unions have called later this month, on the day the parliament will vote on the reform of the pension and social security system.