Customers are deserting supermarket giant Tesco, the nation’s biggest retailer.

It appears they are turning instead to the German discount outlets Aldi and Lidl, where sales grew by 36% and 23% respectively.

Portugal's Government is close to fulfilling the necessary conditions to re-launch the privatisation of state airline TAP, according to today’s Diário Económico.

According to reports the process can be re-started this month and there are signs that American businessman Frank Lorenzo is in the running as he already has ‘shown interest’ in buying TAP.

Lonely Planet has been searching for the top 50 places for a getaway in Europe and the western Algarve’s Vila do Bispo is on the list,

"Seafood lovers should not miss the opportunity to visit this village in the south of Portugal," reads the guide which highlights seafood as one of the reasons to visit, especially the barnacle which the publication warns is unappealing to look at but tastes like ‘a kiss from the sea.’

The Portuguese language weekly newspaper, Barlavento, is now part of the expanding Open Media group which, along with magazines such as Essential Algarve also owns MMS Publishing Lda, publisher of the Algarve Resident and Editurismo Lda - publisher of the German language magazine Entdecken Sie Algarve.

The words of Economy Minister, Pires de Lima, whose populist comments today guarantee him a place in this evening's headlines and start to pave his way to higher office.

Pires de Lima already is the Minister for the Economy but as an ambitious businessman will have his sights set on the top job. Since an early error in openly backing a reduction in VAT for the restaurant sector, the minister has not made any similar mistakes since.

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be down to an average of 0.5%.

The rate is the same as it was in March, which was the lowest since the worst months of the financial crisis in 2009.

While eurozone unemployment fell slightly to 11.7% in April, Portugal made the greatest strides in reducing its rate.

In March 2013, the jobless rate was 17.3% but by April this year it was down to 14.6%. There was a steady decline over the months.

Passport renewal times for expats have been lengthened, according to new guidance from Her Majesty’s Passport Office.

A spokesman said: "We are updating our guidance on estimated processing times for customers who apply for a passport overseas. Applications from overseas can take significantly longer than those made in the UK due to additional security checks.’’