US jobs grow by 304,000 despite government shutdown and earnings surge February 1, 2019 The US economy added more than 300,000 jobs in January despite the government shutdown, far ahead of forecasts. Jobs have now grown in the US for a record 100 consecutive months, dating back to October 2010. Despite forecasts of a further 170,000 jobs, the US labour market gained 304,000 in January, according to non-farm payroll [...]
DEBATE: With Italy now in recession, is the nation facing an economic crisis? February 1, 2019 With Italy now in recession, is the nation facing an economic crisis? Beatrice Faleri, economist and freelance writer originally from Italy, says YES. Less than a month ago, Italy’s Prime Minister boasted of a forthcoming “economic boom”. Yesterday, in a somewhat comical U-turn, he reported that, in fact, the country has entered an economic recession. GDP [...]
Private investment can help Britain remain a world leader in humanitarian aid February 1, 2019 The home secretary’s new plan to “redouble” efforts to crack down on knife violence is a reminder of where the spending priorities of this government have been, and a chance to question where investment is most needed now. The UK’s ambitious aid target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income now accounts for £14bn worth [...]
Editor’s Notes: Why we cannot take no-deal off the table February 1, 2019 There has been no shortage of ludicrous Brexiter outbursts lately as they see their project imperilled by political reality. One Tory backbencher railed against the CEO of Airbus (who had warned against a no-deal Brexit) on the grounds that he is German. He even invoked the Second World War to make a point about not [...]
Italy slips into recession as Eurozone growth disappoints January 31, 2019 Italy slipped into a recession at the end of last year after its economy contracted for a second consecutive quarter. The Italian economy shrank 0.2 per cent in the final three months of 2018, the country’s statistical office Istat said today, following a 0.1 per cent drop the previous quarter. Read more: Eurozone at risk of [...]
The UK is trying to leave the European club – in Italy, the club is on fire January 31, 2019 After Tuesday’s parliamentary showdown, all eyes are on Westminster. Don’t be misled, though – the real existential threat to the EU lies in Rome. In the UK, we are debating how to leave the golf club. In Italy, the golf club is likely to be swamped by an approaching tsunami. There may not be a [...]
Britain has never understood the fervour for the EU project January 31, 2019 What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? It would appear that we are about to find out in the latest instalment of the Brexit soap opera that has been running since we announced our intention to leave in 2016. For no sooner had MPs voted on Tuesday night to back Sir Graham [...]
Let it be: London councils should allow offices and shops to be converted into homes January 31, 2019 Amid all the Brexit brouhaha in Westminster it is important that parliamentarians do not forget the many other issues that affect people's day-to-day lives. Bravo, therefore, to MP Chris Philp for reminding Theresa May during yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions that the dream of homeownership remains all too elusive for many young adults – particularly in [...]
German inflation holds steady amid gloomy outlook for 2019 growth January 30, 2019 Inflation in Germany remained flat in January as the eurozone’s largest economy issued a gloomy forecast for 2019 growth. Consumer prices in Germany rose 1.7 per cent year-on-year, holding steady from the rate in December and in line with estimates from economists polled by Reuters. The figures came shortly after the German government cut its [...]
Lending to consumers slows as credit card borrowing falls amid Brexit uncertainty January 30, 2019 Lending to British consumers grew at its slowest rate in four years in December, as credit card borrowing fell sharply in the run up to Brexit. Annual consumer credit growth slowed to 6.6 per cent, the Bank of England said. Credit card borrowing was “particularly weak”, the bank said, and households put more money into [...]