There is further evidence of a slowdown in the world’s largest economy after retail sales stagnated last month. Sales were flat from the month earlier after July’s figure was revised down to 0.3% from 0.5%. August’s figure was also worse than expected after car sales fell and excluding this item, sales rose just 0.1%. However, [...]
Recovery of the UK economy is to remain sluggish, with GDP slowing to 0.2% in the June to August period, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) predicts. This compares with a 0.6% rate in the three months to July. The influential think tank believes if the weakness continues, the Bank of England [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector slowed in August, figures have revealed today. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) slowed at the fastest pace in over a decade to 51.1 in August from July’s reading of 55.4. The fall represented the second largest on record and was much [...]
The National Statistical Coordination Board has revealed the Philippine economy grew at an annual rate of 3.4% in the second quarter – slowing from an annual growth of 4.6% in the previous quarter. The expansion was less than the 4.4% expected by economists. Compared with the previous three months, the economy, which is South East [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed UK retail sales grew by just 0.2% last month – slightly less than the 0.3% expected by analysts. The slight gain was much slower than the 0.8% increase the previous month as households continue to be squeezed by higher inflation, rising unemployment and sluggish wage growth. [...]
The Federal Reserve’s policy-setting arm, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), elected to keep interest rates on hold between 0% and 0.25% yesterday. Rates have been at the record low since December 2008 and the Fed has announced it will hold rates at this historic low until 2013 – suggesting the central bank is concerned [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed growth in the UK construction industry slowed in July. The PMI dipped to 53.5 in July from June’s reading of 53.6 – however, the figure beat expectations of a reading of 53.0. Furthermore, the index remains above the crucial 50 [...]
The latest Beige Book report, published by the Federal Reserve, has revealed widespread signs that US economic growth is slowing. The Fed said: “Economic activity continued to grow; however, the pace has moderated in many districts.” The economic recovery of the US remains sluggish in the face of higher unemployment and a depressed housing market, [...]
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised key interest rates for the eleventh time since March 2010, in a bid to tame stubbornly high inflation in a thriving economy. The central bank lifted its main rate to 8% from 7.5% as inflation soars on the back of higher food and fuel prices. In a [...]
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today elected to keep interest rates on hold at 4.75% – for the seventh time since November. The move, which was widely expected, comes as the economy slows and pressures mount over inflation. Australia was the first economy to raise rates from a 50-year low as the economic [...]
According to figures from the Bank of England, Britons increased their financial stake in their homes by £5.8 billion in the first quarter of 2011 – the smallest injection in a year. The figure was much lower than the £7.1 billion in the October to December period in 2010 – which represented the highest since [...]
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 [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector slowed in May, figures have revealed today. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) eased to a 3-month low of 53.8 in May from 54.3 the previous month. Analysts had expected the index to be around the 54.0 level. However, the index remains [...]
The National Bureau of Statistics has today revealed Chinese property growth eased in March. China‘s property prices have remained stubbornly high despite several Government incentives to avoid a property bubble. The country continues to grapple with high inflation in property and food prices. However, property prices slowed in March with fewer cities recording an increase, [...]
The Commerce Department has reported a further rise in consumer spending in the US for the month of January, albeit slower than expected. Spending grew 0.2% in the month after rising by 0.5% in December. While it represented the seventh consecutive monthly rise, it was the weakest pace since June. Consumer spending is closely monitored [...]
Most European markets made gains Friday on the hope that finance ministers meeting in Poland will announce new measures to pull the region out of its debt crisis. The FTSE 100 was up 0.58 percent to 5,368.41 in London while the FTSE 250 added 1.01 percent to 10.428.2. Satellite telecommunications specialist Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT) led [...]
LSL: Rents reach record high in August
A survey by LSL Property Services has revealed rents in England and Wales continue to surge, with the average rent hitting a further record high last month. August represented the seventh consecutive month that the average rental cost rose. Lenders’ deposit requirements, together with unaffordable house prices has meant the rented sector has been in [...]
India lifts interest rates further to combat inflation
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has today raised key interest rates for the twelfth time since March 2010, in a bid to tame stubbornly high inflation in a thriving economy. The central bank lifted its main rate to 8.25% from 8% as inflation soars on the back of higher food and fuel prices and [...]
New World Resources best among miners
European equities markets were higher Thursday after the European Central Bank announced a coordinated effort in concert with the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan and the Swiss National Bank to insure liquidity through the end of this year, with the ECB lending dollars to Eurozone banks, while markets were [...]
Indian inflation rises in August
Figures today revealed India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 9.78% last month – the highest level in a year – and significantly above the central bank’s target of between 4% and 5%. Not only was the rate up from July’s increase of 9.22%, it was also higher than expectations of a 9.70% increase. This represented [...]
Euro zone growth will slow but no recession
The European Commission has today warned that euro zone growth will almost grind to a halt in the second half of the year. Its prediction comes amid the ongoing debt crisis in the 17-member region. It slashed growth forecasts for the third quarter to 0.2%, while growth for the final quarter has been revised down [...]
ONS: UK retail sales fall 0.2% in August
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed UK retail sales fell by 0.2% in August after riots earlier in the month affected trade. The fall followed slower growth in the previous two months after sales rose just 0.2% in July and 0.8% in June. In the meantime, food sales were also down – [...]
Figures today show consumers continue to cutback in the face of higher inflation and rising unemployment after Kesa, the parent company of electrical retailer Comet, revealed a sharp fall in sales. Total revenue in the previous three months fell by 9.8% on a like-for-like basis while sales slumped almost 22% after the company blamed weak [...]
US retail sales fail to rise in August
There is further evidence of a slowdown in the world’s largest economy after retail sales stagnated last month. Sales were flat from the month earlier after July’s figure was revised down to 0.3% from 0.5%. August’s figure was also worse than expected after car sales fell and excluding this item, sales rose just 0.1%. However, [...]
European equities markets were higher Wednesday as investors speculated that China might buy European bonds even though China’s premier said that nations with debt problems should not expect to be rescued. The FTSE 100 was up 1.02 percent to 5,227.02 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 0.97 percent to 10,107.9. Clothing retailer Next (LSE: [...]
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