Inflation is zero, but retailers and manufacturers are charging you more for less April 14, 2015 Consumer price inflation may be at zero for the second month in a row, but new research suggests the goods we buy are getting smaller while prices are edging up. Take your Tetley's Blend of Both tea, for example. If you bought that in Sainsbury's a few months back it would have been £2.55 for [...]
Manufacturing data help FTSE to bounce back after big falls – London Report April 1, 2015 DATA RELEASED yesterday showing that Britain’s manufacturing sector grew at the fastest pace in eight months prompted investors to buy equities on the first trading day of the quarter. The blue-chip FTSE 100 closed 0.5 per cent higher at 6,809.50 points after a 1.7 per cent slide on Tuesday that trimmed its first quarter gains [...]
UK manufacturing PMI hits eight-month high in April’s Markit survey April 1, 2015 The UK's manufacturing sector grew at its fastest rate in eight months in March, in what could prove another boost to the Conservatives' economic record heading into May's General Election. Markit's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) came in at 54.4 in March, up on February's 54.1 and its highest since July last year. The boost came [...]
Strong pound subdues manufacturing exports, the CBI says March 23, 2015 The strong sterling and continued uncertainty for the Eurozone are subduing Britain's manufacturing sector. The CBI said that export orders had fallen to their lowest in more than two years. Just 10 per cent of businesses reported total order books that were above normal for this time of the year. while 35 per cent said [...]
Gatwick Airport slams new findings on Heathrow as “manufacturing an outcome to support third runway ambitions” March 16, 2015 Gatwick Airport has hit out at the findings of the National Connectivity Taskforce (NCT), which singled out Heathrow as being in need of government attention. The two London airports have been at loggerheads for months as they both attempt to gain approval to construct a new runway. A decision on which one of the capital’s [...]
Manufacturers ask Osborne for bigger cuts to the cost of energy March 9, 2015 MANUFACTURERS today called on the chancellor to help out with their energy bills and with more advice and support on exporting. Rapid drops in global oil prices have driven down UK energy bills, dragging inflation into negative territory and so putting giving a break to hard-pressed firms and consumers. But in its budget submission, manufacturers’ [...]
UK manufacturing sector picking up steam March 2, 2015 The speed at which the UK’s manufacturing sector is expanding reached a seven-month high in January, new survey data show. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a survey of private sector firms – rose to a score of 54.1 in February from January’s 53.1, according to figures released yesterday. Any figure above 50 [...]
Eurozone manufacturing flat in February March 2, 2015 The Eurozone's manufacturing sector showed disappointing growth in February, figures out this morning have shown. Markit's Eurozone manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) hit 51 in February. That's down from the flash estimate of 51.1, and flat on the 51 it hit in January. Still, at least the region's manufacturers can take some solace in the [...]
Sterling’s strength hampers chemical manufacturer Croda February 24, 2015 CHEMICAL manufacturer Croda became the latest victim of sterling’s strength after the company yesterday blamed declining profits last year on the currency. The company struggled during 2014 as fragile consumer confidence and significant exchange rate volatility compounded a general slowdown in all its main markets, especially in Europe, a situation it expects to continue into [...]
Growth surges in manufacturing sector as export orders recover February 19, 2015 MANUFACTURERS are seeing business pick up this month, new survey data shows. They are also expecting to grow more quickly over the next three months, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Output volumes had increased for 40 per cent of firms in February compared with the 23 per cent who said they had [...]