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 [...]
Deflation station: Fidelity International’s Maike Currie explains where to invest in a world of no inflation November 18, 2015 It is likely that I will have to write further open letters to you over the coming months…” If you think these are the words of a hopeless romantic penning a letter to their long-distance love, you’re wrong. It’s the Bank of England governor Mark Carney, writing to chancellor George Osborne to explain why [...]
US inflation rises to 0.2 per cent in October as energy prices halt their decline as core inflation stays at 1.9 per cent November 17, 2015 Annual inflation in the US climbed to 0.2 per cent in October from zero per cent in September as energy prices rebounded and medical costs climbed. Compared with September, the consumer price index – the basket of goods and services used to measure inflation – climbed 0.2 per cent, lifting the annual figure. Energy prices [...]
UK inflation stays at -0.1 per cent in October as food and booze prices fall November 17, 2015 Just in time for Christmas. Prices in the UK fell for the second consecutive month in October, figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed this morning. The annual inflation rate was -0.1 per cent, led by sharper falls in the prices of food and booze and a slower rise in tobacco prices. Food prices were down three [...]
Japan recession: Has Abenomics failed? not quite November 17, 2015 The latest data from Japan revealed that the world’s third largest economy slipped back into recession in the past quarter, at least technically. Has Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “three arrows” plan to revive the Japanese economy – Abenomics – failed in spectacular fashion? Well, yes and no. MIXED PICTURE Let’s start with the economy. [...]