The NHS needs a complaints handling revolution says new review October 28, 2013 2,500 responses describing lack of care and compassion, and deep dissatisfaction with the way in which complaints had been handled were received by a review looking into the way the NHS handles complaints. The independent report, commissioned by the prime minister and health secretary Jeremy Hunt, follows the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust and [...]
Dallas Fed: October sees less optimism of business conditions but manufacturing activity strengthens October 28, 2013 Perceptions of business conditions in Texas were less optimistic in October, as the Dallas Fed manufacturing business index came in at 3.6 – still positive, but down from last month's reading of 12.8. Texas produces more than 11 per cent of total manufactured goods in the US, putting it second behind California in factory production. [...]
US debt problem may be solved sooner than expected October 28, 2013 America's debt problem may be solved sooner than many think, according to new research from Capital Economics. Their analysis suggest that in the short term, rising GDP growth and a limited rise in interest rates will contain American debt. The sharp fall in the size of the deficit means that America is no longer expected [...]
St Jude unlikely to have a significant impact on UK economy October 28, 2013 After strong winds battered the UK today, causing nationwide damage, as well as disruption to transport networks across the City, Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight suggests that the impacts won't be long lasting for the UK economy. Archer says that he doesn't think the storm "will have a significant impact on the economy" as [...]
US home sales fall for fourth month running in September October 28, 2013 US pending home sales have fallen by 5.6 per cent to 101.6 in September, after estimates of just a 0.5 per cent fall and last month's decline of 1.6 per cent. The index, which is based on contract signings, is at its lowest since December 2012 (101.3). The National Association of Realtors' Lawrence Yun said: "declining [...]
US industrial production leaps past analyst expectations in September October 28, 2013 US industrial production has jumped up by 0.6 per cent in September. Analysts had expected production to rise at the same 0.4 per cent rate as it did in August. Underlying indicators were more mixed, with manufacturing output rising by just 0.1 per cent. Capacity utilisation rose from 77.9 per cent to 78.3 per cent, [...]
Firming house prices fuel bubble concerns as London sees a 9.3 per cent jump October 28, 2013 London's house prices jumped up 9.3 per cent year-on-year in September, with prices in England and Wales up 1.5 per cent since August, according to the Land Registry's house price index. The release follows Hometrack's October data earlier today, which documented that national prices increased by 0.5 per cent, whilst London rose by 0.8 per [...]
London house prices to keep rising due to chronic undersupply October 28, 2013 The London housing market will continue to experience significant undersupply in the coming years and will retain its robust stance, according to research by Deutsche Bank. The bank expects UK listed house builders with scale and history in the region to see strong returns in their London divisions. It also expects new entrants such as [...]
Battle of the Burgers: Burger King serves up sales growth to equal rival McDonald’s October 28, 2013 Fast food chain Burger King has reported higher quarterly profits on the back of cost reductions and higher same-restaurant sales growth in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Burger King said that same-restaurant sales grew by 0.9 per cent in the third quarter – the same as the growth reported by rival McDonald's [...]
One frustrating website security feature just became useless October 28, 2013 The web's best loved test of whether you're a human being just became redundant – according to US technology firm Vicarious. The San Francisco based company says that its software can break tests which have users input a distorted string of words and symbols – known as CAPTCHAs – and they say they can do [...]