News Tag: surprise
March 11, 2010
The Commerce Department today announced a fall in US imports and exports, resulting in an unexpected fall in the trade deficit.
According to official figures, exports in January dipped 0.3% to $142.7 billion, with less machinery, agricultural products and civilian aircraft sold.
Meanwhile, imports slumped 1.7% in the world’s largest economy, to $180 billion, partly due to a severe drop ...
US imports and exports down in January
by Kay Murchie
March 10, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) today revealed UK industrial output unexpectedly fell in January - primarily due to the cold weather during the month.
According to the ONS, output fell by 0.4% in January compared with the previous month and represented the largest monthly fall since August.
Analysts had expected a 0.3% rise.
However, on an annual basis, output was up ...
UK factory output in surprise January fall
by Kay Murchie
February 19, 2010
The US Federal Reserve stunned markets by raising its discount rate (the interest rate it charges banks for emergency loans) by 25bps to 0.75%.
The news sent the pound down to its lowest level against the US dollar in nine months, while Asian equity markets reacted cautiously as they digested the news.
Furthermore, the euro also plummeted to a nine-month ...
Fed discount rate rise triggers sterling losses
by Kay Murchie
February 5, 2010
The Labor Department has today revealed that the US unemployment rate fell from 10% in December to 9.7% in January - its lowest level in five months.
According to the Labor Department, employers cut 20,000 jobs last month - many analysts had predicted the economy to add jobs.
US President Barack Obama has pledged to make job creation his top priority.
Meanwhile, the ...
US unemployment rate falls to 9.7%
by Kay Murchie
February 2, 2010
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has stunned the markets by electing to keep interest rates on hold at 3.75%.
The RBA has increased interest rates three times since October and many analysts said interest rates could hit 4.25% in the short-term.
Australia is one of the few developed economies not to have fallen into recession like its counterparts throughout the world.
The economy ...
Australia surprises with interest rate freeze
by Kay Murchie
January 14, 2010
Fears over the strength of the US recovery arose today after the Commerce Department revealed a fall in retail sales in December.
According to the Commerce Department, sales declined by 0.3% in December compared with the previous month, while total sales for 2009 were 6.2% lower compared with 2008.
The figures came as a surprise to economists, who had been expecting ...
US retail sales in unexpected fall in December
by Kay Murchie
Australia continues to outperform as unemployment rate falls
by Kay Murchie
November 4, 2009
For the first time in two years, Ireland’s unemployment rate fell in October to 12.5%, down from 12.6% the previous month.
The fall in the rate came as a surprise to many analysts as the economy has been hit by a severe slump within the construction industry, which has led to a significant amount of job losses.
The last time the unemployment rate ...
Ireland’s unemployment rate falls to 12.5%
by Kay Murchie
November 2, 2009
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS)/Markit purchasing managers index of manufacturing activity grew to 53.7 in October, up from the revised reading of 49.9 the previous month.
The reading beat forecasts of a rise to 50.0 and represented the fastest pace of growth in two years.
Furthermore, new orders rose at their fastest in almost six years with the index surging by ...
UK manufacturing activity beats expectations
by Kay Murchie
October 28, 2009
There were concerns over a recovery in the US housing market today after the Commerce Department revealed a fall in the annual rate of US new home sales in September.
According to the Commerce Department, new single-family home sales dived by 3.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 402,000 homes, down from a revised 417,000 units in August.
It was ...
New US home sales fall in September
by Kay Murchie
October 25, 2009
The National Association of Realtors has revealed a surprise rise in sales of previously owned homes in the US for the month of September.
The industry body said sales surged 9.4% to an annual rate of 5.57 million in September, up from 5.09 million the previous month.
The rate far exceeded analysts expectations who had expected a rise to 5.35 million units.
The national ...
US home sales in surprise rise
by Kay Murchie
October 9, 2009
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed a surprise rise in factory gate prices for the month of September - the first rise since April.
According to the ONS, the prices of goods leaving UK factories grew 0.5% on year and rose 0.4% on the month.
The news surprised analysts who had expected an annual fall of 0.1%.
Most sectors contributed ...
Factory gate prices in surprise September rise
by Kay Murchie
September 1, 2009
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's monthly index of manufacturing fell to 49.7 in August from 50.2 in July - a figure below 50 indicates contraction.
Today’s figures have surprised many analysts who predicted a rise to 51.5, after growth was reported in July for the first time since April last year.
Meanwhile, the new orders index declined from 54.8 to ...
Weak manufacturing data sends FTSE down
by Kay Murchie
August 13, 2009
The German and French economies, Europe’s two largest, have both experienced economic growth during the second quarter of 2009.
The news has surprised many economists and French Finance and Economy Minister, Christine Lagarde, comments: "The data is very surprising. After four negative quarters France is coming out of the red."
Ms Largarde said that consumer spending and strong exports have helped ...
Europe’s two largest economies emerge from recession
by Kay Murchie
June 10, 2009
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have triggered hopes of an economic recovery after UK industrial output showed a surprise increase in April - the first month-on-month rise for 14 months.
According to the ONS, industrial output rose 0.3% from March - analysts had forecast a decline of 0.1%.
Furthermore, the ONS reported that manufacturing output also rose ...
UK industrial output in surprise rise
by Kay Murchie
January 26, 2009
Figures from the National Association of Realtors have revealed a surprise rise in US home sales in December, as buyers took advantage of lower house prices.
The organisation said sales of existing homes rose 6.5% to an annual rate of 4.74 million, from 4.45 million in November.
According to the National Association of Realtors, for 2008 overall, sales declined 13.1% to 4.91 ...
Americans take advantage of lower house prices
by Kay Murchie
December 18, 2008
Figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that there was a surprise rise in UK retail sales last month.
Sales volumes rose 0.3% in November and are up 1.5% on last year.
The latest surveys have indicated that trading is down and analysts had been expecting retail sales to fall 0.6% in November.
The growth was driven by household goods, which were ...
Unexpected rise in UK retail sales
by Kay Murchie
