German shoppers and investors start 2015 in a confident mood January 28, 2015 GERMAN consumer confidence has reached its highest level for 13 years, new data shows. The forward-looking consumer confidence index compiled by market researchers GfK edged up to a score of 9.3 for February 2015, according to figures released yesterday. That is up from January’s score of nine. GfK said “significant increases were recorded in both [...]
Consumer confidence edges down from its soaring highs December 18, 2014 CONFIDENCE among UK consumers has dipped in December, according to two new sets of survey data. The GFK consumer confidence index published today dropped to minus four in December from minus two in November, according to figures released by the eponymous market research firm. However, it was minus 13 a year ago and near minus [...]
UK shoppers more upbeat than their European counterparts November 27, 2014 UK CONSUMERS are feeling confident in the run up to Christmas and the New Year, survey data released today shows. The consumer confidence barometer released by market research firm GFK yesterday stayed at minus two in November. Despite the fact the figure is negative, it does not signify a decline. The figure also marks an [...]
UK consumer confidence dips but stays high October 30, 2014 Confidence among the UK’s shoppers remains at high levels that are consistent with a strong economy despite falling marginally in October. The confidence index produced by market research firm GfK fell by one point from September to October and now sits at minus two, according to survey results released today. At the peak of financial [...]
Surge in consumer confidence is slowed by poor wage growth September 29, 2014 THE RECOVERY in British consumer confidence has slowed down, GfK’s monthly survey showed yesterday, despite strong economic growth. Analysts believe poor wage growth and sustained inflation are to blame. GfK’s index surged up from sustained lows of minus 13 at the end of last year to plus one last month – well above the study’s long-run [...]
It’s official: German GDP contracted 0.2 per cent in the second quarter September 1, 2014 More bad news for the Eurozone: the German economy contracted during the second quarter of the year, the country's Federal Statistics Office confirmed today. The figures confirmed preliminary estimates, which suggested GDP shrank 0.2 per cent in the second quarter, after 0.7 per cent growth in the first quarter. Compared with the same period in [...]
Confident consumers to drive growth into autumn August 28, 2014 Confidence in the UK economy climbed again this month, with one major index hitting the highest level in nearly a decade, a positive signal for growth in the rest of 2014. GfK’s consumer confidence index rose back into positive territory this month, rising to one – the survey has only risen into positive territory once [...]
European Central Bank hires Blackrock to help with loan purchase programme August 27, 2014 The European Central Bank (ECB) has appointed money managers Blackrock to advise the institution on a plan to buy up loans and help revive the bloc’s financial markets. Blackrock will advise the ECB on an asset-backed securities (ABS) purchase programme, which would be designed to give the stagnant euro economies a boost. However, former ECB [...]
European bond yields fall further after Draghi’s hints at quantitative easing August 27, 2014 European bond yields fell again on Wednesday, as the knock-on effect from a speech by European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi continued to quell investors' fears over muted growth. Germany's 10-year yield fell to 0.9 per cent in London (and a record 0.91 per cent in New York), while Spanish 10-year yields fell to [...]
UK retail sales see strongest calendar increase in a decade July 24, 2014 Headline retail sales growth in June was markedly softer than expected, according to official estimates released today. Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures saw overall retail sales up by just 0.1 per cent in the month, lower than the 0.3 growth anticipated by an analyst poll. Excluding fuel, retail sales dropped by 0.1 per cent [...]