With consumer price index inflation inching up to 0.1 per cent, could the period of persistently low inflation be about to end? December 15, 2015 Kallum Pickering, senior UK economist at Berenberg, says Yes Falling oil prices and sterling appreciation have exerted strong but temporary effects on headline inflation, bringing it to zero for most of 2015. But even if there is more disinflationary pressure to come from oil in the near term, prices cannot fall forever. Eventually, the oil [...]
US inflation jumps ahead of Federal Reserve interest rate decision December 15, 2015 US inflation rose to a 2015-high in September as the impact of low energy prices began to fade. Annual inflation, as measured by the year-on-year change in the consumer price index, jumped to 0.5 per cent in November from October’s 0.2 per cent. The figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the impact of oil [...]
UK inflation: We’re back in the black as inflation moves into positive territory December 15, 2015 UK inflation rose to 0.1 per cent in November, figures by the Office for National Statistics showed today – putting the UK back into positive territory for the first time since July. But analysts were less than optimistic about its ability to stay in the black. The figures showed rises in transport costs and alcohol [...]
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 [...]