News Tag: April
October 13, 2009
The basic state pension is to increase from April 2010 by 2.5%, which equates to a rise of £2.40 per week, or 34p per day.
For a single pensioner, the weekly pension will rise from £95.25 to £97.65, while a pensioner couple will see a rise to £156.16 from the current £152.30.
State and public sector pensions ...
State pension to rise by 34p per day from April 2010
by Kay Murchie
June 12, 2009
More good news on the housing market front with latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) showing the number of loans approved for house purchases rising 16% in April, compared with March.
Loans to first-time buyers increased by 11% on March and the average deposit required stood at 25% (unchanged from February).
Those getting a foot on the property ladder borrowed ...
New home loan approvals up 16%
by Gill Montia
June 10, 2009
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have triggered hopes of an economic recovery after UK industrial output showed a surprise increase in April - the first month-on-month rise for 14 months.
According to the ONS, industrial output rose 0.3% from March - analysts had forecast a decline of 0.1%.
Furthermore, the ONS reported that manufacturing output also rose ...
UK industrial output in surprise rise
by Kay Murchie
June 9, 2009
The Federal Statistics Office has today announced a severe slump in German exports - the biggest fall since the start of the recession, indicating the economy has some way to go until it recovers.
Exports plunged 28.7% in April compared with April last year falling to €63.8 billion (£55 billion) compared with €89.5 billion in the same month the previous ...
German exports and industrial production plummets in April
by Kay Murchie
Government figures show 1.1% rise in house prices
by Gill Montia
June 2, 2009
New figures from the Bank of England show the number of mortgages approved for house purchases rising for the third successive month in April.
Lenders approved 43,201 loans to home buyers, up from 40,000 in March.
The figures suggest that completed transactions, which increased 35% in March compared to February, should continue to rise.
Remortgaging activity fell again in April, reflecting a trend for borrowers ...
New mortgage lending nudges up
by Gill Montia
June 1, 2009
The Commerce Department announced a further fall in US consumer spending in April as the recession and rising unemployment prompted American households to be thrifty and enhance their savings rather than spend.
Figures show that consumer spending declined 0.1% in April in the world‘s largest economy, compared with a revised fall of 0.3% the previous month.
The slide in spending comes ...
US consumer spending falls for second consecutive month
by Kay Murchie
Land Registry tracks 0.3% April fall in house prices
by Gill Montia
May 27, 2009
According to the British Bankers' Association (BBA), the number of mortgages approved for house purchases rose by 4% in April compared with the previous month, rising from 26,671 to 27,685 approvals.
However, compared with April 2008, this represented a fall of 15.5%.
Furthermore, net new mortgage lending (which takes into account repayments and redemptions) hit its lowest level in over eight years falling ...
BBA: Mortgage lending up in April
by Kay Murchie
May 22, 2009
Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed a sharp fall in UK car production.
According to the SMMT, car production fell 55.3% in April compared with the same month in 2008. A total of 68,258 cars were made in April, while the total for the year to date is approximately 251,268 cars.
Furthermore, 56,267 cars were ...
Car production plummets by 55%
by Kay Murchie
May 21, 2009
Consumer spending increased in April after retail sales were up 0.9% during the month compared with March, beating analysts expectations who had forecast a rise of just 0.5%.
However, on an annual basis, sales were up 2.6% compared with April last year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Analysts believe record low interest rates are tempting shoppers back to the ...
UK retail sales up in April
by Kay Murchie
S&P’s changes UK outlook to negative
by Kay Murchie
Gross mortgage lending 60% down
by Gill Montia
May 19, 2009
The Office for National Statistics has announced today that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), fell to 2.3% in April from 2.9% in March.
The fall in CPI was much deeper than had been expected by economists as consumer demand continues to weaken amid the economic downturn.
In the meantime Retail Price Index (RPI), which includes mortgage costs, also fell to -1.2% in April from ...
UK inflation continues to fall
by Kay Murchie
May 18, 2009
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has reported that its members sold more houses in April than in any month since October 2007.
The average estate agency branch sold ten properties last month, up from eight in March and a record low of five in August 2008.
The Association's chief executive, Peter Bolton King, says: "What we are beginning to see now ...
Estate agents report rise in sales
by Gill Montia
May 15, 2009
The US Labor Department has announced today that US consumer prices remained unchanged in April - in line with expectations.
However, on an annualised basis, inflation fell 0.7% on April last year - the steepest decline in 54 years.
Core prices, excluding energy and food, rose by 0.3% in April compared with March, which was more than expected, this was boosted ...
US inflation in largest annual fall since 1955
by Kay Murchie
May 14, 2009
The Commerce Department revealed that US retail sales fell 0.4% in April and follows a fall of 1.3% in March.
April’s figure was worse than analysts had expected and show no evidence of an actual recovery, according to Paul Dales, US economist at Capital Economics.
Consumer spending makes up for nearly 70% US GDP and retail sales are, therefore, a barometer for ...
US April retail sales worse than expected
by Kay Murchie
May 12, 2009
The latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) describes the mindset of its members as "universally optimistic" over sales.
New buyer inquiries across England and Wales increased for the sixth consecutive month in April; around 41% more surveyors reported a rise rather than a fall, pushing the ratio up from 32% more reporting a rise in March.
The trend proved ...
Estate agents “universally optimistic” on sales
by Gill Montia
Good weather brings consumers back to shops
by Kay Murchie
May 11, 2009
Figures released by the US Labor Department have revealed that the US jobs market might be improving.
According to the data, 539,000 jobs were lost in April, which exceeded the 600,000 economists had predicted and far less than the 699,000 jobs lost in March.
The country’s unemployment rate now stands at 8.9%, up from the 8.5% in March but represents the highest ...
US economy loses fewer jobs in April
by Kay Murchie
