Service sector activity plunges to 20-month low January 6, 2011 Large swathes of the service sector suffered their first fall in output since April 2009 last month, a major survey showed on Thursday, pointing to a sharp slowdown in economic growth at the end of 2010. GDP probably grew by just 0.4 per cent in the last three months of 2010, lower than many economists [...]
Price hike Britain January 18, 2011 Fears were growing last night that Britain faces an explosion in the cost of living, with spiralling inflation threatening to erode savings and squeeze households already facing higher taxes. The consumer price index (CPI) shot up in December at the fastest rate since the Office of National Statistics (ONS) began reporting it in 1996, the [...]
Best Buy bullish over the UK’s consumer climate October 25, 2010 US electricals giant Best Buy has said its UK launch has been a success with new stores trading ahead of expectations. The retailer opens a new store in Croydon on Friday and insisted it was upbeat about the long-term prospects for the consumer sector, despite data showing a bleak picture as the government’s cuts hit [...]
Jobs fears persist despite better than expected US?economic growth November 23, 2010 GROWTH in the US was higher than previously thought, it was announced yesterday. GDP growth was revised to 2.5 per cent for the three months to September, up from two per cent, said the US Federal Reserve (Fed). The rise was beyond the expectations of economists, who had predicted a slightly smaller rise. The Fed [...]
Jobs fears persist despite better than expected US?economic growth November 23, 2010 GROWTH in the US was higher than previously thought, it was announced yesterday. GDP growth was revised to 2.5 per cent for the three months to September, up from two per cent, said the US Federal Reserve (Fed). The rise was beyond the expectations of economists, who had predicted a slightly smaller rise. The Fed [...]
Public sector increasingly nervous about jobs November 9, 2010 IN the run up to the Christmas season feelings of insecurity surrounding employment situations can become more acute. A monthly Household Economic Activity Tracker (HEAT) produced by YouGov SixthSense has found that a net percentage of employees were more fearful for their jobs in October (net -20 per cent) than they had been during September [...]
Public sector increasingly nervous about jobs November 9, 2010 IN the run up to the Christmas season feelings of insecurity surrounding employment situations can become more acute. A monthly Household Economic Activity Tracker (HEAT) produced by YouGov SixthSense has found that a net percentage of employees were more fearful for their jobs in October (net -20 per cent) than they had been during September [...]
THE TIPSTER June 13, 2010 FOOTBALL results might be capturing everybody’s attention at the moment but there are some key financial scores out this week. Following positive full-year results in March, grocer J Sainsbury is expected to announce first quarter profits this week. Will its management confirm Morrisons’ news that a slowdown in the market has begun? With the firm’s [...]
John Lewis sales stalled by strike and sunshine October 15, 2010 RETAILER John Lewis said sales growth slowed last week, as a strike on London Underground and a brief Indian summer meant fewer shoppers in its stores. The employee-owned company, traditionally seen as a bellwether of the UK retail sector but which has outperformed competitors for over a year, said on Friday sales at its 28 [...]
John Lewis sales stalled by strike and sunshine October 15, 2010 RETAILER John Lewis said sales growth slowed last week, as a strike on London Underground and a brief Indian summer meant fewer shoppers in its stores. The employee-owned company, traditionally seen as a bellwether of the UK retail sector but which has outperformed competitors for over a year, said on Friday sales at its 28 [...]