Archive for the 'recession' Category

Think tank provides UK growth forecasts

According to leading economic think tank, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), the UK economy grew by 0.3% in the December to February period and has expanded by 0.7% since last September’s slump.
The NIESR’s latest predictions come just a few weeks after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the UK economy [...]

Recovery will be “sluggish”, expert claims

Recent increases in the purchasing managers index (PMI) should not be taken as an indication that Britain is entering a strong recovery, one expert has claimed.
Vicky Redwood, economist at Capital Economics, said economic recovery will be “sluggish” over the next two years.
She made the remarks despite conceding that PMI data released this week was “pretty [...]

Threat of ‘double dip’ recession remains

Leading business group, the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), has warned that the UK economy faces a “high risk of a relapse“.
The UK economy emerged from recession in the fourth quarter of 2009 by experiencing growth of just 0.3%.
However, all economists and reports have suggested that the recovery will be fragile, while others have expressed [...]

Australian economy grows 2.7% during 2009

Official figures have revealed Australia’s economy grew 0.9% in the October to December period, while on an annual basis the economy expanded 2.7%.
In comparison, the UK, Germany and Japan all contracted by around 5% in 2009, while the US shrank by 2.4%.
Australia’s Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan described the country’s growth as “the [...]

UK consumer confidence up in February

The latest survey from the Nationwide Building Society has revealed a rise in UK consumer confidence for the month of February.
The building society’s consumer confidence index surged to 80 last month – the highest level since January 2008 and double the reading seen last February.
According to the Nationwide, its survey reflects the fact that consumers [...]

Australia raises interest rates to 4%

As widely expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has raised interest rates from 3.75% to 4%.
The RBA has increased interest rates four times since October and many analysts believe 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 [...]