Germany, which is the euro zone’s largest economy, has today reported slower growth for the second quarter. According to figures from Destatis, the German economy grew by just 0.1% in the April to June period – much less than the 0.5% expected by analysts. The figures will undoubtedly be a disappointment since Germany has been [...]
The Customs Agency has today reported slower growth in China’s exports, rising by 19.4% in May on an annual basis but much slower than the 29.9% rate in April. The rate was also less than the market forecast of a 21% increase. Meanwhile, imports surged by 28.4% on an annual basis – beating expectations of [...]
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 [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed UK manufacturing activity slowed more than expected in March. The closely-watched CIPS/Markit manufacturing PMI dropped to 57.1 in March – a five-month low – down from a revised 60.9 in February. The reading was much lower than the 60.5 [...]
Official figures out tomorrow are expected to reveal growth in the world’s number two economy slowed in the April to June period. Japan fell into a severe recession following the global financial crisis but was one of the first major economies to emerge from recession – in the second quarter of 2009 – boosted by [...]
Influential think tank, the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR), believes the economic recovery will be slower than the Government anticipates. The new coalition Government is optimistic in its prediction for economic growth and expects it to be 2.3% next year and 2.8% the year after. However, the Institute is forecasting that the [...]
The finance ministry has today revealed Japanese exports continued to rise in June, albeit at a slower pace. Exports grew 27.7% to 5.87 trillion yen in June – the seventh straight monthly rise. However, not only did the figure fall short of expectations of a 23.1% rise, it was also below May’s increase of 32.1%. [...]
A report by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) and accountants BDO has found companies slashed their marketing budgets in the April to June period. The cut backs were due to increasing concern among companies that the economy will see slower growth in the second half of 2010. The survey of 300 British companies [...]
Supermarket giant Morrisons has today reported same store sales rose by 0.8% in the 13 weeks to 2 May, much lower than the 6% growth reported in the year to January 31. Despite the slower sales growth, the Bradford-based retailer said it is outperforming its competitors and industry data shows it remains the fastest-growing of [...]
There were further hopes of a strong recovery today after the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 48.6 in January, up from 47.1 the previous month – the smallest fall in activity during the current 23-month period of contraction. The figures came just a day after the CIPS/Markit [...]
Hopes of an early exit from the recession today boosted the US after the Commerce Department revealed that the world’s no.1 economy shrank at a far slower rate in the second quarter than previous estimates showed. According to the Commerce Department, the US economy contracted by 0.7% between the April and June period rather than [...]
The latest CIPS/Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has revealed some good news for Britain’s manufacturing industry today after a rise was noted in new manufacturing orders. According to the PMI, new manufacturing orders increased to a 14-month high, while UK manufacturing contracted at its slowest pace in a year in May. May marked the third [...]
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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