Retail sales rise as shoppers reap “noflation” in February March 26, 2015 Retail sales beat expectations as low prices encouraged people onto high streets across the country in February, figures out today show. Sales on the high street rose 5.7 per cent annually according the Office for National Statistics. It marked the 23rd consecutive month of year-on-year growth, the longest winning-streak since May 2008. Retail sales grew 0.7 [...]
Bank of England shouldn’t cut rates over deflation – Monetary Policy Committee member David Miles March 25, 2015 Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member David Miles has sought to quash fears over deflation, saying any foray into negative territory would be short-lived and shouldn’t lead to rate cuts. Speaking in an interview with the Financial Times, Miles, one of the more dovish members of the MPC, said that he expected the rate of [...]
US magnate warns oil prices could hit $100 by the end of 2016 March 25, 2015 Oil prices could return to as much as $100 a barrel by the end of next year, a US oil magnate warned yesterday. "I think you could very well be at $100 a barrel by the end of 2016," Boone Pickens, chair of the hedge fund BP Capital, said during a speech at the Commonwealth Club [...]
Eurozone economies pick up just as Asian giants start a slowdown March 24, 2015 Global economic growth showed signs of shifting in March, as influential surveys indicated that the troubled Eurozone is starting to recover, but manufacturing activity falling in China. Even the stagnant French economy racked up a second consecutive month of growth, according to the study from Markit. Its purchasing managers’ index (PMI) recorded a score of [...]
London house prices on the up after six months of flatlining March 24, 2015 London’s house prices are picking up again after stalling since August, official data showed yesterday. The average home in the capital cost £510,000 in January – up 1.6 per cent from £502,000 in December, and back up towards the £514,000 peak seen in August 2014. Nationally, prices rose £1,000 to an average of £273,000. Over [...]
Why drug-resistant superbugs could wipe 6pc off the world economy by 2050 March 24, 2015 Tackling antibiotic resistance could become one of the biggest struggles of our time, according to new research by the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Tuberculosis (APPG TB). An overuse and misuse of antimicrobials has allowed some of the planet's deadliest diseases to start winning the battle against man-made drugs, and the situation is [...]
Brexit would be “disastrous” for UK, says Standard Life chairman March 24, 2015 The chairman of insurer Standard Life has told the CityWeek conference it would be "disastrous for London and the UK" if Britain were to leave the single market. Sir Gerry Grimstone said: Why on earth would we not want to be part of one of the biggest markets in the world? Our whole energy should [...]
Surprise as UK inflation falls to zero for first time since current records began in 1989 March 24, 2015 Inflation fell to zero in February for the first time since current the current records began in 1989, moving Britain closer to deflation, official statistics showed today. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed prices didn't increase at all in February compared with the same time a year ago. The figure came [...]
Mario Draghi defends ECB policy decisions after QE rollout March 23, 2015 European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi yesterday hit back at claims that new monetary policy measures would reduce the need for governments to undertake reforms, ultimately harming growth prospects. “Do you really think a high level of interest rates would form an incentive for a government to improve its education system, or judiciary, or [...]
Ukip economic policy: Patrick O’Flynn takes aim at “onesie state” and promises tax cuts March 23, 2015 Ukip's economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn has unveiled the economic policies the party will carry into the General Election. The headline pledges included upping defence spending by £3bn per year, hitting the Nato target of two per cent of GDP being spent on the military. "It is astonishing to think that UKIP goes into this election [...]