The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has today raised key interest rates for the thirteenth time since March 2010, in a bid to tame stubbornly high inflation. The central bank lifted its main rate to 8.5% from 8.25% as inflation soars on the back of higher food and fuel prices and the measures were widely [...]
Inflation in the world’s second largest economy eased last month after reaching a 3-year high in July. According to the National Statistics Bureau, consumer prices rose by 6.2% in August on an annual basis, compared with 6.5% the previous month. Several other economies throughout the world are battling with higher inflation, particularly in Asia, which [...]
The People’s Bank of China has today lifted interest rates – the third time this year – as it battles to tame inflation. Inflationary pressures are rife in Asia and many central banks have opted to hike interest rates in an attempt to combat rising prices. The bank said the one-year lending rate will rise [...]
In its annual report, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned that global interest rates need to rise in order to tame inflation. The report also said low interest rates are a threat to world financial stability. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, central banks opted to slash interest rates in an effort [...]
Inflation in the world’s second largest economy reached the highest level in 34 months in May as food prices continue to rise. Consumer prices rose by 5.5% in May on an annual basis – higher than expectations of an annual rate of 5.3%. Food prices (the primary factor behind stubbornly high inflation) remain high, rising [...]
South Korea’s central bank has today elected to hold interest rates for the second consecutive month despite rising inflation. The move surprised analysts who had forecast a 0.25% rise. The latest figures from Statistics Korea showed the consumer price index hit 4.2% in April on an annual basis. The rate is higher than the central [...]
According to the Bank of England, inflation could reach 5% later this year, driven higher by rising energy costs. Energy costs are rising due to the surge in crude oil on the back of the ongoing political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East. In its latest quarterly inflation report, the Bank said upward [...]
The US Labor Department has today revealed consumer prices climbed to 2.7% in March from 2.3% in February. The rise, which was more than expected, was attributed to higher food and petrol prices. Meanwhile, on a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.5% in March. Inflation is rising in many economies throughout the world, particularly [...]
The Bank of Korea has lifted its inflation forecast for the 2011 year as food and oil prices rise. Inflationary pressures are rife in Asia and many central banks have opted to hike interest rates in an attempt to combat rising prices. The latest figures from Statistics Korea showed the consumer price index rose by [...]
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said inflationary pressures remain rife in Asia’s developing economies and could pose a challenge for many, leading to social tensions. However, the region is powering ahead in the economic growth stakes, due to soaring exports, and has been leading the way in the global economic recovery. Growth rates for [...]
Speculation is mounting again that Portugal may need financial assistance after a rise in bond yields. Yields on Portuguese 10-year bonds climbed to 8.17% yesterday – a record high after last week’s rise to 8%. The country’s borrowing costs have risen in recent months – mimicking what happened in Greece and Ireland – just before [...]
South Korea’s central bank has today elected to lift interest rates in order tame high inflation. The move did not come as a surprise to analysts after the bank lifted its main interest rate from 2.75% to 3%. Analysts believe more rate hikes are on the cards, with many predicting rates to be between 3.5% [...]
The European Central Bank (ECB) today elected to keep interest rates on hold at the record low of 1% for the 21st consecutive month. The move came despite inflation exceeding the Bank’s target. Inflation in the 17-member euro zone rose to 2.4% in January – above the ECB’s target of just below 2%. The bank [...]
Brazil, which is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, recently admitted that inflation is spiralling out of control. Yesterday, the central bank lifted its key interest rate to 11.75% from 11.25%, in a bid to tame inflation, which at 5.91% exceeds the Government’s target of 4.5%. The move, which was widely expected, is the [...]
Statistics Korea has today announced the inflation rate has jumped to a 27-month high – driven by higher food and fuel costs. According to Statistics Korea, the consumer price index rose by 4.5% in February on an annual basis. The rate is now at the higher end of the central bank’s 2%-4% target. Analysts believe [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed UK manufacturing activity held its record high in February. The record level was attributed to higher factory costs, indicating pricing pressures are growing. The closely-watched CIPS/Markit manufacturing PMI remained at 61.5 in February – which represents the highest reading [...]
The Labor Department has announced US producer prices surged in January – the biggest rise for two years, driven higher by rising drug costs. According to the data, the core producer price index, which strips out food and energy costs, increased by 0.5%, the biggest rise since October 2008. It exceeded analysts expectations of a [...]
South Korea’s central bank has elected to keep interest rates on hold despite rising inflation. The move surprised analysts who had expected a further rate rise after last month’s increase to 2.75%. However, analysts believe rates will be increased next month, with many predicting rates to be between 3.5% and 3.75% by the end of [...]
The European Central Bank (ECB) today elected to keep interest rates on hold at the record low of 1% for the 20th consecutive month. The move came despite inflation exceeding the Bank’s target. Earlier this week, the European Union’s statistics office Eurostat revealed inflation in the euro zone rose more than expected in January. Inflation [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK economy contracted by 0.5% in the October to December period. The figures shocked economists who had expected growth of between 0.2-0.5% following growth of 0.7% in the third quarter and 1.1% in the April to June period. Meanwhile, economic growth rose by 1.7% on [...]
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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