News Tag: ONS
March 18, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK Government borrowed a further £12.4 billion in February.
However, while the figure represented the highest amount for February on record, it was less than economists had forecast.
Overall, debt stands at £857.75 billion - the equivalent to 60.3% of GDP, up from 50.5% a year ago.
For ...
UK public sector net borrowing less than expected in Feb
by Kay Murchie
March 17, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that UK unemployment fell slightly in the three months to January to 2.45 million.
The latest figures take the unemployment rate to 7.8%, according to the ONS.
In the meantime, the number of Britons claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) also fell by 32,300 in February to 1.59 million - the sharpest fall since November 1997, just ...
UK unemployment continues to fall
by Kay Murchie
March 10, 2010
According to leading economic think tank, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), the UK economy grew by 0.3% in the December to February period and has expanded by 0.7% since last September's slump.
The NIESR’s latest predictions come just a few weeks after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the UK economy saw growth of 0.3% in the ...
Think tank provides UK growth forecasts
by Kay Murchie
UK factory output in surprise January fall
by Kay Murchie
March 9, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK’s trade gap widened unexpectedly in January to a 17-month high.
The news disappointed markets and sent the already weak pound falling. Sterling fell 0.4% to €1.10 at mid morning and lost 0.75% against the dollar to fall below the $1.50 mark.
Sterling has lost around 24% of its value since ...
UK trade deficit unexpectedly widens in January
by Kay Murchie
March 1, 2010
A survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has provided some optimism for the UK economy but the business group warns of a drawn-out recovery.
According to the CBI, its survey found business volumes stabilising across the services sector over the last three months.
Meanwhile, the survey found that consumer services, which include hotels and travel, business was at ...
CBI survey shows optimism but warns of slow recovery
by Kay Murchie
February 26, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that the UK economy grew by 0.3% in the October to December period - slightly higher than the 0.1% estimated last month.
The figures will come as a relief to many who had feared the worst with growth being revised downwards.
However, the revised figures still leave an annual fall of 3.3% - ...
UK Q4 economic growth figures revised upwards
by Kay Murchie
ONS to publish second Q4 GDP estimate
by Kay Murchie
February 25, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today reported a sharp fall in business investment, raising concern over the second estimate of fourth quarter GDP figures, which are due to be published tomorrow.
According to the ONS, business investment fell by 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2009 to £27.1 billion - the steepest annual fall since records commenced in 1967.
On ...
UK business investment sees substantial fall
by Kay Murchie
February 18, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that the UK’s public finances deteriorated last month with net borrowing at £4.3 billion.
January is traditionally a strong month for tax receipts - due to income and corporation tax, according to the ONS.
However, tax income was lower than expected and it is the first borrowing figure for the month of January since ...
UK finances deteriorate further in January
by Kay Murchie
February 17, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that UK unemployment fell slightly in the three months to December to 2.46 million.
However, the unemployment rate remains the same at 7.8%, according to the ONS.
In the meantime, the number of Britons claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) rose by 23,500 in January to 1.64 million - the largest increase since July 2009.
Meanwhile, youth unemployment ...
UK unemployment continues to slow
by Kay Murchie
February 16, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will announce the UK inflation rate this morning, which analysts are expecting to be around 3.5%.
Last month, the ONS reported that Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rose at its fastest annual pace in 9 months in December, rising to an annual rate to 2.9%.
The rise was driven by higher petrol costs and the effects of the reduction ...
Inflation expected to exceed 3%
by Kay Murchie
February 11, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed UK factory output grew more than expected in December, boosting hopes of an upward revision to the initial estimate of fourth quarter GDP figures.
According to the ONS, output increased by 0.9% in December after strong gains in the transport, paper and publishing and electrical and optical equipment sectors.
Meanwhile, the broader measure of industrial ...
UK factory output sees strong December growth
by Kay Murchie
February 10, 2010
The UK's goods trade deficit widened to £7.3 billion in December, from £6.8 billion a month earlier.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) goods exports increased by 4.5%, to £20.9 billion, in the final month of 2009 but the improvement was overcome by a 5.2% rise in imports, to £28.2 billion.
Given the weaker pound, the result has confounded analysts who ...
UK trade deficit wider in December
by Gill Montia
January 27, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that the number of pensioners living in poverty has shrank by almost a third to two million in 2007/08 from 2.9 million in 1998/99.
Poverty is officially defined as living on 60% of the average income - once housing costs have been paid.
The ONS also revealed that fewer over 60s are relying ...
ONS reveals fall in pensioner poverty
by Kay Murchie
January 22, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed a disappointing performance for the High Street for the month of December.
Official figures showed that UK retail sales rose by just 0.3% in December compared with the previous month.
On an annual basis, sales were up 2.1% but both monthly and annual figures were lower than analysts had expected.
The annual figure ...
UK December retail sales fall short of expectations
by Kay Murchie
January 21, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that the UK’s public sector borrowing hit another record high of £15.7 billion in December.
While the figure was less than the £18.75 billion analysts had expected, it was still the highest December figure on record.
Overall debt now stands at £870 billion - the equivalent of 61.7% of GDP - the ...
UK’s public sector borrowing continues to soar
by Kay Murchie
January 20, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that UK unemployment fell by 7,000 in the three months to November to 2.46 million, taking the unemployment rate down to 7.8%.
Furthermore, the number of Britons claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) fell by more than expected in December, down 15,000 to 1.61 million - its biggest amount since April 2007.
The latest figures will boost ...
UK unemployment continues to slow
by Kay Murchie
Unemployment expected to hit 2.5m
by Kay Murchie
January 13, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed a rise in UK industrial production for the month of November.
The official data showed that output rose by 0.4% in November compared with October and was slightly higher than analysts expectations of a 0.3% rise.
The figures will boost hopes that the UK emerged from its worst recession in decades in the ...
UK industrial output beats expectations in November
by Kay Murchie
