Eurozone consumer price inflation at 47-month low November 15, 2013 Inflation has slowed in the Eurozone in line with analysts expectations, with the consumer price index coming in at 0.7 per cent in October year-on-year. Core inflation was 0.8 per cent for October year-on-year. Eurozone inflation is now at its lowest point since November 2009. The slowdown in inflation will be cause for concern for [...]
Warm weather hits winter clothes sales November 14, 2013 RETAIL sales took a knock in October, official figures showed yesterday, as the mild Autumn hit sales of winter clothes. Sales have been growing steadily as the economy recovers, and analysts believe the 0.7 per cent fall compared with September’s sales will not start a new downward trend. Compared with October 2012, sales were up 2.5 [...]
Surprise fall in UK retail sales hopefully a temporary blip November 14, 2013 UK retail sales suffered a worse than expected fall of 0.7 per cent in October. Analysts had expected retail sales to remain in line with figures seen in September. Capital Economics' UK economist, Mark Beck, comments: Overall, with recent data showing a robust labour market and October’s faster than expected fall in inflation easing the [...]
Stronger growth points to review of the Bank’s forward guidance policy November 13, 2013 THE UK economy is looking up – it’s official! The Bank of England delivered a hat-trick of good economic news yesterday in its latest Inflation Report projections. Economic growth is looking stronger, inflation is coming down more quickly than expected, and unemployment is now projected to be lower than in the previous forecast in August. [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 13 November 2013 November 12, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Forex probe widens to 15 banks The global probe into foreign exchange manipulation has widened to include 15 of the world’s biggest banks and some of the most actively traded currencies, as lenders scramble to help authorities in exchange for leniency. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority – one of seven regulators handling the [...]
A more competitive UK won’t come from government targets November 12, 2013 GOVERNMENTS shouldn’t try to centrally plan economies. It is absurd for the coalition to have decreed that it wants UK exports to reach £1 trillion a year by 2020, for example. Of course, UK firms need to produce more; and of course in doing so they will need to sell more overseas. But plucking impressive-sounding [...]
Letters to the Editor – 07/11 – Short memories, HS2 alternatives, Best of Twitter November 6, 2013 Short memories [Re: There is sadly mass support for nationalisation and price controls, Tuesday] I wonder if the supporters of nationalisation ever tried to get a phone line installed in the 1970s. Have they compared energy prices now with rates back then, adjusted for inflation? Are they aware that the state monopolies made substantial operating [...]
There is sadly mass support for nationalisation and price controls | City A.M. November 6, 2013 SLOWLY but surely, the public is turning its back on the free market economy and reembracing an atavistic version of socialism which, if implemented, would end in tears. On some economic issues, the public is far more left-wing than the Tories realise or that Labour can believe. If you think I’m exaggerating, consider the findings [...]
There is sadly mass support for nationalisation and price controls November 4, 2013 SLOWLY but surely, the public is turning its back on the free market economy and reembracing an atavistic version of socialism which, if implemented, would end in tears. On some economic issues, the public is far more left-wing than the Tories realise or that Labour can believe. If you think I’m exaggerating, consider the findings [...]
London Report: Weak energy results push the FTSE 100 down October 31, 2013 ADROP in the share prices of oil major Shell and chemicals maker Croda knocked Britain’s benchmark equity index down from five-month highs yesterday. Some traders said it could herald a further, minor pull-back on the blue-chip FTSE 100 as traders cash in profits from a four per cent rise in the index in October. The [...]