Heinz threatened with strike as row over ‘below inflation rise boils over November 1, 2010 HEINZ workers could be balloted for strikes in a pay dispute, the Unite union warned yesterday. Unite said its members at the food giant’s site in Wigan were calling a vote in protest at a below inflation rise this year and a capped increase for next year of three per cent. Jennie Formby, Unite national [...]
US economy in slim GDP rise October 29, 2010 US economic growth edged up as expected in the third quarter but not enough to chip away at high unemployment or change perceptions of more monetary easing from the Federal Reserve next week. Gross domestic product expanded at a two per cent annual rate as consumer spending rose at its fastest pace since 2006, the [...]
Shock fall in September retail sales October 21, 2010 THE high street suffered a shock fall in retail sales last month, raising fears that consumer spending is slowing even before the austerity measures really begin to bite. Headline retail sales fell by 0.2 per cent for a second consecutive month in September after a downwardly-revised drop of 0.7 per cent in August. Economists had [...]
China’s GDP growth starts to slow down October 21, 2010 China’s growth ebbed in the third quarter while inflation edged higher, suggesting that the world’s second-largest economy was far from overheating and that an interest rate rise this week may be enough for now. Economic growth dipped to 9.6 per cent in the third quarter from a year earlier, down from 10.3 per cent in [...]
There was no other choice – now George Osborne must hold his nerve October 20, 2010 IT was a timely reminder that action is desperately required to tackle Britain’s out of control budget deficit. At 9:30 yesterday morning, a full three hours before George Osborne got up to deliver his spending review to the House of Commons, the latest monthly budget deficit figures popped up on traders’ screens across the City. [...]
Christmas retail sales could be best since 2007 October 17, 2010 SHOPPERS will spend more on the high street in the run up to Christmas than they have for at least three years, a report has claimed. Retail analysts Verdict Research said high street sales were likely to increase by £1.6bn in the three months to Christmas, a 1.9 per cent rise on last year, to [...]
New jobless claims rose in US last week October 14, 2010 New US claims for jobless benefits rose last week, hardening the view the central bank will pump more money into the economy, and keeping pressure on Democrats poised to lose congressional seats in 2 November polls. At the same time, record-high imports from China helped push the US trade deficit wider in August, while rising [...]
CPI inflation holds steady in September October 12, 2010 CONSUMER Price Index (CPI) inflation remained at 3.1 per cent in September, unchanged from August official figures released yesterday showed, continuing the trend of above target inflation. Meanwhile, Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation was 4.6 per cent, down from 4.7 per cent in August but above analysts expectations of 4.4 per cent. The Office for [...]
Poor consumer confidence hits the High Street October 11, 2010 A LACK of confidence among consumers has resulted in lacklustre retail sales growth over the past six months while next week’s Comprehensive Spending Review is unlikely to boost optimism among spenders. Retail sales values rose just 0.5 per cent last month on a like-for-like basis from September 2009, when sales had risen 2.8 per cent. [...]
FTSE rises on stimulus expectation October 6, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed higher, at a fresh five month peak yesterday led by miners and energy issues as commodities rose on optimism governments will act to stimulate economies around the world. At the close, the FTSE 100 was up 45.63 points, or 0.8 per cent at 5,681.39, its highest close since 26 April. [...]