Good news for UK consumers as research reveals food prices are expected to stay frozen in 2016 December 15, 2015 UK food prices will fail to grow again next year in a further boost to consumers, according to a new forecast. Food prices dropped 1.5 per cent in 2014 and are expected to fall again 3.1 per cent this year, Prestige Purchasing, a foodservice supply chain consultant, said today. Annual food price inflation had not been negative [...]
Brazil’s inflation hits 12-year high as food prices climb December 9, 2015 Brazil’s annual inflation rose to 10.5 per cent for November, marking a 12-year high on the back of a spike in food prices and the rising cost of electricity. This higher-than-expected figure for consumer prices marks an increase from October, when the country's inflation stood at 9.9 per cent, and September, when it was 9.5 per cent. Brazil's [...]
Venezuela’s socialists are staring at defeat ahead of this weekend’s election December 4, 2015 People in Venezuela were asked, earlier this year, to name any “very big problems” in their country. Eighty-four per cent cited a shortage of basic goods. Eighty-two per cent said crime. Three quarters referred to healthcare, which is little surprise given that Venezuela’s hospitals are in crisis. Even less surprising is the fact that, topping the [...]
Drop in core Eurozone inflation gives European Central Bank extra incentive to boost asset purchases tomorrow December 2, 2015 Annual inflation in the Eurozone was 0.1 per cent last month, according to official estimates released this morning, but core inflation has fallen below one per cent, offering European policy makers extra encouragement to boost their asset purchase programme tomorrow. Inflation was unchanged from October, yet core inflation, which excludes the impact of low energy prices, fell [...]
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro threatens “bourgeois parasite” Heinz management over “sabotage” of economy December 2, 2015 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has threatened to arrest senior members of the food group Heinz for "sabotaging the national economy". The country's leader, who earlier this year arrested a number of businessmen for "conspiring" to create long queues outside their shops, went on TV last night to warn that an inspection would be carried out against the "bourgeois [...]
Inflation in Germany and Italy weak in November despite oil price impact wearing off November 30, 2015 Inflation in Germany, the Eurozone’s biggest economy, and Italy was weak in November according to official estimates released today. However, there is evidence the effect of cheap oil is beginning to wear off. Germany’s inflation ticked up to an annual rate of 0.4 per cent in November. Energy prices were down 7.5 per cent compared [...]
Low inflation and falling unemployment mean it will be a bumper Black Friday 2015 UK November 26, 2015 More than a week’s worth of UK online spending in one day – that’s what Black Friday is estimated to bring in. Average weekly online spending in the UK last month was £839.1m. For Black Friday alone it will be close to £1bn according to the Centre for Retail Research. Total Black Friday sales (including [...]
Autumn Statement and Comprehensive Spending Review 2015: Housing set to dominate – as well as what time it starts, how to watch it and what will be in it November 25, 2015 Later today George Osborne will take to the despatch box to give his combined Autumn Statement and Comprehensive Spending Review. George Osborne has already tweeted the front cover of the document, saying it will "deliver economic and national security – the foundations of everything we do". Today's Spending Review will deliver economic and national security – the [...]
It’s not just the euro: Southern Europe is facing a major structural economic crisis November 24, 2015 Major shocks to social and economic systems ruthlessly expose weaknesses which can be contained in more normal times. When the price of oil quadrupled in 1973-74, the different levels of resilience in the labour markets of Western Europe were quickly revealed. Inflation initially rose sharply everywhere. By 1976, it had fallen to 4 per cent [...]
FTSE 100 investors remain bullish on UK defence – London Report November 18, 2015 News yesterday that UK consumer price inflation remained in negative figures for the second straight month – largely due to falls in food and fuel prices – pushed the FTSE up. The blue-chip index rose by 122.4 points, or 1.99 per cent, to close at 6268.7 pushing up the combined value of UK listed companies by [...]