Public sector borrowing soars to record £20.3bn
December 18, 2009 by James Hale · Leave a Comment
Public sector borrowing hit a record high last month of £20.3 billion, taking
the UK’s net debt to 60 per cent of total economic output for the first
time.
The borrowing figure, which is £4.9 billion higher than the same month last
year, is the highest since the Office for National Statistics (ONS) began
compiling records in January 1993.
It was slightly lower than expectations, which had forecast a high of £23
billion, following the Government’s announcement that it expects national
debt to hit £1.5 trillion by 2015.
UK manufacturing output stagnates unexpectedly in October
December 8, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Published: 11:58AM GMT 08 Dec 2009
The lack of growth disappointed expectations of a modest rise, while wider
industrial output including mining and utilities was also flat over the
month.
September’s bounce back from a 2pc fall in manufacturing output during August
was also revised
down to 1.5pc by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
IHS Global Insight’s Howard Archer said: “This highlights the fact that the UK
still faces a difficult battle to develop a sustainable, significant
recovery.”
Estate agents most optimistic about house prices for three years
November 10, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
By Myra Butterworth, Personal Finance Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM GMT 10 Nov 2009
The balance of agents saying prices are on the rise again in the last three
months reached 22 per cent, the highest level since December 2006.
Factory gate prices rise in September
October 9, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Prices at the factory gate rose for the first time in five months in
September, with almost all sectors taking part in the unexpected rise,
according to official figures today.
The Office for National Statistics said that non seasonally adjusted output
prices rose 0.5 per cent in September.
It took the annual rate of inflation to 0.4 per cent, the first positive
reading since April. Prices registered a 0.3 per cent fall in August.
Services sector confidence hits two-year high
September 3, 2009 by James Hale · Leave a Comment
Britain’s services sector continued to recover in August, leading to rising
optimism that the economy is returning to health.
Activity expanded for a fourth successive month and at the strongest rate
since September 2007, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply
(CIPS), said.
Higher activity was supported by new business alongside work on existing
contracts. The continuing positive trend supports expectations for the
coming year, with confidence reaching a two-year high, according to CIPS.
Businesses counting cost of snow
February 3, 2009 by samsonites · Leave a Comment
Disruption caused by the heavy snowfall could cost UK businesses more than £1.2bn, business groups have estimated.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said that 20% of the UK’s working population, or 6.4 million people, would not make it to work. Read more
