Five charts showing why US GDP growth fell so much in the fourth quarter January 30, 2015 Today's US fourth quarter GDP growth figure was a disappointing affair – not only did it come in below expectations of three per cent growth, but at 2.6 per cent, it was almost half the level posted in the third quarter of 2013. What's going on? There are a few explanations. 1. The obvious one [...]
US GDP growth hits 2.6 per cent in the final quarter of 2014 January 30, 2015 US gross domestic product (GDP) growth rose to 2.6 per cent in the final three months of 2014, down from five per cent in the previous quarter. Although the figure is an estimate, it came in lower than analyst expectations: they had forecast a number closer to three per cent. The US's official statistics authority [...]
Eurozone slips further into deflation January 30, 2015 The Eurozone slipped further into deflation in January, with inflation falling to -0.6 per cent, down from -0.2 per cent in December. The figure is a record low for the bloc, and worse than analysts had feared: they had expected a fall of -0.5 per cent. Of course, the fall was, in part, caused by [...]
Jay Z bids £40m for Swedish music streaming Spotify rival Tidal January 30, 2015 Spotify could be about to become another issue to add to Jay-Z's list of 99 Problems: the US music mogul has bid half a billion krone, about £40m, for Aspiro, the parent company of Swedish streaming platform Tidal. The platform, which launched in the UK in October, focuses on high quality "lossless" music. At the [...]
Taylor Swift trademark quiz: How well do you know your celebrity IP? January 30, 2015 Taylor Swift is getting down to business again: having hit the business pages last year by spurning Spotify, this week the pop star showed her savvy again by trademarking a range of phrases and images from her latest album. The filings mean that from now on, no-one else can make T-shirts, tote bags, lanyards or [...]
Five terrifying “curveball” job interview questions, and how to prepare for them January 29, 2015 We've all been there: you're getting on ok during a job interview, and suddenly the interviewer asks a question you'd never even considered. Your future depends on your reaction to this question. What do you do? James Reed, the chairman of recruiter Reed, reckons he has the answers. His book, Why You? 101 Interview Questions You'll [...]
UK 10 year gilt yields fall to record low January 29, 2015 UK 10-year bond yields fell to a record low of 1.402 per cent today, as investors rushed to plough cash into an asset largely regarded as "safe". The fall came a day after Bank of England chief economist Andrew Haldane admitted that "there's no rush" to raise interest rates. If you're counting, base rate has [...]
Three charts showing what a world without free Waitrose coffee looks like January 29, 2015 Middle class coffee fans across the nation were sent reeling yesterday, after Waitrose announced it's no longer going to offer free tea and coffee to myWaitrose card holders in its cafes. Yep, the dream is over: from 9 February, card holders will have to "purchase a treat" if they want to get their free latte [...]
After UK shale triumph, Scotland announces moratorium on shale gas projects January 28, 2015 The Scottish government has announced a moratorium on planning permission for shale gas projects, less than 24 hours after a crucial vote in the UK parliament had saved the sector in the rest of the UK from a similar plight. Last night MPs voted 308-52 against proposals to impose a moratorium across the whole of [...]
In pictures: Stunning images show the hidden world of workers at the front line of Britain’s night-time economy January 28, 2015 When Dolly Parton sang about the drudgery of Nine to Five, she probably hadn't taken into consideration that things could be much worse. While most of us spend our days slaving away at our desks, an estimated seven million people clock on at 6pm and work through the night. What does this "hidden" economy look [...]
