Archive for 'Growing Economy' Category
UK borrowing costs at record low
The UK government’s cost of borrowing in markets briefly fell to a record low last week.The 10 year gilt yield fell below 2% in thin post Christmas trading. The 10 year gilt yield – which indicates the interest rate the Treasury would probably have to pay if it wanted to borrow more money for that [...]
UK economic growth revised up to 0.6% by officials
The UK economy grew by 0.6% between July and September, official figures have shown- which is faster than previous estimates of 0.5%.Growth was driven by strong performance in the service sector and construction. However, the growth estimate for the second quarter of the year was revised down from 0.1% to zero by the Office for [...]
UK trade deficit narrows as exports hit a record growth
The UK’s trade deficit narrowed sharply in October, as the value of exports hit a record high new official figures have shown.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the deficit in goods fell to £7.6 billion, down from £10.2 billion September. Exports of goods rose to a record £26.5 billion, while imports fell from September’s [...]
UK service sector improves a new survey finds
The UK’s service sector activity picked up in November after falling in the previous month a closely-watched survey finds.The Markit/Cips services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 52.1 in the month, up from 51.3 in October. Any figure above 50 indicates growth. The service sector accounts for about two thirds of UK economic activity. The [...]
Businesses to get £40 billion credit help in Autumn Statement
A series of measures aimed at helping UK businesses and the wider economy have been announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement.The biggest new policy is a £40 billion “credit easing” scheme to make it simpler to underwrite bank loans to small firms. Small businesses with an annual turnover of less than will [...]
UK retail sales see surprise rise in October
UK retail sales rose 0.6% in October from the month before the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced.Analysts had expected sales to fall, but a run of pre-Christmas sales and promotions helped to lure shoppers in, with prices down 0.4% in the month. The ONS said the food sector had seen a boost in [...]
UK manufacturing output increases more than expected
The UK’s manufacturing output rose more than expected in September official figures have revealed.Factory output increased by 0.2% compared with August. From a year earlier, it added 2%. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics follows a 0.3% month on month decline in August, and is the first rise in four months. The [...]
Factory orders rise as business investment jumps
Factory orders rose in September in the USA after business investment jumped by its highest amount in six months.Total factory orders increased for a third straight month, rising by 0.3%, according to the latest figures. Demand for core capital goods, seen as a bellwether for business investment spending, jumped 2.5%. This rise – which was [...]
UK economic growth picks up to 0.5%
The UK economy grew by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2011, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The growth in the July to September period compared with a 0.1% expansion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the previous quarter. But analysts said growth in the second quarter of the year had been dampened [...]