Inflation in the world’s second largest economy reached the highest level in 3 years in June – suggesting that the central bank will continue to lift interest rates. Just last week, the People’s Bank of China raised rates for the third time this year to combat stubbornly high inflation. Many other central banks in Asia [...]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has today revealed the unemployment rate in the US rose in June to 9.2% from 9.1% in May. According to the Bureau, the number of new jobs created in the world’s largest economy last month represented the lowest in 9 months. The economy created just 18,000 jobs in June – [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed UK producer output prices surged in June to their highest level since October 2008. According to the ONS, output prices (factory gate) annual inflation for all manufactured products grew by 5.7% in June – slightly higher than forecasts of a 5.6% rise and the biggest annual [...]
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed UK car sales fell by 6.2% in June compared with the same month in 2010. The SMMT said the number of new cars sold in the month was 183,125 – representing the twelfth consecutive monthly fall in sales. Meanwhile, registrations in the first six months [...]
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), shop price inflation rose in June on the back of growing food prices. The BRC said shop price inflation surged to its highest rate since October 2008 in June. Higher petrol and commodity costs lifted shop prices to 2.9% in June from 2.3% in May while food inflation [...]
The Halifax has today revealed UK house prices rose by 1.2% in June on a monthly basis. The rise represented the biggest month-on-month gain since October and takes the average cost of a UK home to £163,049, the Halifax said. However, on an annual basis, prices are 3.5% lower. When comparing prices in the three [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector rose slightly last month, figures have revealed today. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) edged higher to 53.9 in June from May’s three-month low of 53.8. The result confounded analysts’ expectations of a fall to 53.5. The index continues to remain above [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed the UK construction industry slowed in June. The PMI dipped to 53.6 in June from May’s reading of 54 – however, the figure was broadly in line with expectations. Furthermore, the index remains above the crucial 50 mark, which separates [...]
Manufacturing activity in the 17-member euro zone fell in June to an 18-month low, figures showed today. The Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) posted a reading of 52.0 in June from May’s reading of 54.6. However, the index continues to remain above the crucial 50 level which indicates expansion. The slowdown was attributed to the [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed UK manufacturing grew at its slowest rate in almost two years in June. The closely-watched CIPS/Markit manufacturing PMI dived to a 21-month low of 51.3 last month from May’s reading of 52. June’s reading was slightly lower than the [...]
Manufacturing activity in China eased last month, two separate surveys have revealed today. Firstly, the official China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said its purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 50.9 in June from May’s reading of 52 – the lowest level since February 2009. The reading was also lower than expectations of a [...]
A survey of 2,000 individuals, conducted between June 3 and 12, has revealed a fall in consumer confidence. According to the survey of consumer attitudes, carried out by GfK NOP Social Research, confidence dipped by 4 points to -25 in June after May’s 10 point rise, which represented the biggest increase since May 1993. The [...]
The latest house price index from the Nationwide Building Society has revealed house prices remained unchanged in June after a 0.3% rise in May – in line with expectations. On an annual basis, house prices are now 1.1% lower than this time last year with the average UK home costing £167,208. The housing market remains [...]
According to housing intelligence group, Hometrack, house prices in England and Wales have fallen at their fastest annual pace since October 2009. According to Hometrack, house prices fell by 0.1% in June and are 3.9% lower on the year. House prices have now fallen for 11 consecutive months, according to the group. Hometrack attributes the [...]
The Munich-based Ifo think tank has revealed confidence among German firms unexpectedly rose in June. The closely-watched Business Climate Index grew to 114.5 in June from May’s reading of 114.2, confounding analysts’ expectations of a fall to 113.4. The index is now close to a record high of 115.4 recorded earlier this year. However, a [...]
Minutes of the Bank of England’s June 8-9 meeting have been released today and have revealed the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 7-2 to lift interest rates and 8-1 to restart the Bank’s quantitative easing (QE) scheme. Adam Posen, again, called for an injection of £50 billion via the QE scheme to boost the economy. [...]
Property website, Rightmove, has today reported a rise in asking prices for the month of June – the sixth consecutive month of growth. According to Rightmove, asking prices for residential property in England and Wales grew 0.6% in June after a 1.3% increase in May. The property website, which claims to advertise 90% of the [...]
The Treasury has today announced Ben Broadbent will join the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Mr Broadbent, a Goldman Sachs economist, will assume his position in time for the June rate-setting meeting and replaces Andrew Sentance after his term ends on 31 May. Broadbent’s research at Goldman has suggested there will be three [...]
The Commerce Department today announced the US trade deficit widened in June to $49.90 billion (£31.8 billion) – the highest level in 20 months and much higher than the $42.2 billion most economists had expected. According to the Commerce Department, the further widening in the trade deficit was primarily due to rising imports from China [...]
Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the housing market currently, there is some positive news from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). According to the CML, 52,000 new loans were granted to home buyers in June – 19% higher than in May and up 14% on June 2009. CML economist Paul Samter points out that [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
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