News Archive: Economics

04, 2008 September:

No change from the BoE

The Bank of England has kept the base rate at 5%, for the fifth month running

02, 2008 September:

Andalusia offers small firms 10 million euro survival plan

Manual Chaves, the president of the Andalusian governmentmet, announces a selection of measures designed to rescue the region's economy

01, 2008 September:

Albania and Montenegro to record best economic growth in Balkans

According to the International Monetary Fund's forecasts, the economies of Albania and Montenegro are expected to achieve the strongest growth in the Balkans region this year

No Rate Cut this week, predict experts

Economists predict that interest rates will remain the same in September while inflation continues to soar

29, 2008 August:

Liberal Democrats launch new housing plans

The Liberal Democrats have proposed new plans to boost the housing market that would involve the Government buying up council land and using it to build new homes on.

Estonia falls into recession

Estonia is the first of the Baltic States to technically fall into recession, according to official data compiled by Statistics Estonia.

Cyprus outperforming most other markets?

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors European Housing Review 2008 has described Cyprus as 'a rare case of a country shrugging off the gloom.'

28, 2008 August:

Saudi stock market opens to foreign investors

Saudi Arabia has finally opened its stock market to international investors, and, combined with the foreign investment law, which allows 100 per cent foreign ownership of projects and real estate, the total value of new projects this year looks set to hit £200 billion.

Investors pulling out of Russia

Since the conflict began in Georgia, Russia has witnessed foreign investment drop off dramatically, highlighting a reluctance to invest in a region seen as volatile.

27, 2008 August:

Bad luck for the Irish

The Irish property investment market is at 'virtual standstill' according to a leading commercial property and real estate services adviser.

Mr Bean's predictions

The Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Charles Bean, has forecast a fall in inflation.

Brush up on money matters

A new guide to managing your money when investing or moving abroad has been published.

American home building low could have silver lining

Home building in the USA fell sharply last month, hitting the lowest level for 17-years, according to a Census Bureau Report, but this could help the glut of unsold homes in the market.

Lanzarote dodges the credit crunch

Far from shutting up shop due to the credit crunch, Lanzarote has seen a massive increase in British visitor numbers for the first half of this year.

Look outside eurozone for property

Overseas investors should look outside the eurozone for property bargains as the euro rises in value against the weakening pound.

Costa del Sol soldiering on

Reports of a housing market crash on the Costa del Sol have been exaggerated, according to a local market expert.

26, 2008 August:

Building societies to merge?

Housing downturn could well trigger building society mergers, says finance expert

22, 2008 August:

Bulgarian currency sought after

According to the Post Office, demand for Bulgarian currency has been going up steadily in the last three years.

Investors look westwards to Jodhpur

Following bomb blasts in the state capital of Jaipur, the property market has fallen, and investors are looking westwards to Jodhpur.

21, 2008 August:

American property values fall by 10%

In the last few months, values of homes in the USA have seen their largest decline, leaving almost one-third of homeowners who bought in the past five years facing negative equity.

20, 2008 August:

Bank of England urged to cut rates asap

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has urged the Bank of England's monetary policy committee to lower the base rate as soon as they can, to avoid further housing market upheaval

19, 2008 August:

Lettings boom sparked by weak property market

A record number of would-be property sellers are opting to let instead as the housing gloom continues, a new survey suggests

15, 2008 August:

UK inflation tipped to fall

Following weeks of scaremongering in the press and dire forecasts from industry experts, could this week's inflation figures hint at better times to come?

Stamp duty: delayed decision hindering market

Delaying the decision regarding stamp duty has had an adverse effect on the property market, says the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)

Sterling falls against US dollar for 11 straight days

Eleven days of consecutive falls is the longest run of losses for the British pound against the American dollar in 37 years

Out of Africa

One of the most politically and economically stable countries in Africa, Botswana has seen a continued growth in tourism

14, 2008 August:

HIP replacement?

The suspension of Home Information Packs is being touted as the simplest way to boost the UK's housing market

13, 2008 August:

Migrant influx presents an opportunity in Germany

Germany's new laws on migrant workers could offer big opportunities for international property investors

11, 2008 August:

Germans fret over energy-fuelled inflation figures

New inflation figures in Germany hit a 15 year high, threatening to hit the poor in the pocket hardest of all

Big oil discovery boosts Brazil

Already on the brink of being self-sustaining in terms of oil consumption, a major new oil find has boosted production prospects in Brazil...

Sending it back to Bangalore

Who are the worst offenders when it comes to earning money in the UK and draining the economy by sending it home?

08, 2008 August:

Cape Verde hits the jackpot

A multi-million pound investment aims to boost Cape Verde

07, 2008 August:

BoE stands firm on rates

The Bank of England has once again voted to keep UK interest rates on hold.

Halifax: Housing demand 'weakening'

The house price slump continued in July according to the latest monthly report from the Halifax.

Turkey jolted by 'electric inflation'

The Turkish economy could be in for a short sharp shock over the next few months.

06, 2008 August:

US: Fed plays it safe

The US Federal Reserve has kept its key interest rate unchanged this month.

Kiwis under the cosh?

New Zealand is already suffering from the effects of a recession, according to the country's Treasury department.

01, 2008 August:

Eurozone breaks another record

Eurozone inflation has jumped to its highest level since measurements began, new figures confirm.

31, 2008 July:

IMF: Credit crunch misery 'escalating'

The global credit crunch shows no signs of abating, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

30, 2008 July:

US consumers still 'shaky'

US consumer confidence improved slightly in July, but is this just a false dawn?

29, 2008 July:

Full speed ahead for Bulgaria

Bulgaria's superb growth over the last few years will continue for the foreseeable future, it has been claimed.

25, 2008 July:

NAEA slams 'lethargic' Government

The NAEA has accused the Government of not doing enough to help struggling homeowners in the UK.

Canada 'down in the dumps'

Consumer confidence in Canada fell to a 12-year low in June, the CBC has revealed.

24, 2008 July:

Brazil battles the rising tide

Brazil has been forced to raise its interest rates in an attempt to stem rising inflation.

21, 2008 July:

E&Y: UK economy like a 'horror film'

The UK is heading for an economic "horror movie" and will struggle to avoid recession next year, claims an influential think tank.

US Fed 'in a hole'

According to official figures, US inflation has accelerated at its fastest rate for 17 years .

Recession virgins 'living in fear'

A new poll has revealed that homeowners are terrified of falling into an all too familiar trap.

18, 2008 July:

IMF: It's not as bad as we thought

The impact of the global credit crunch may have been overestimated, claims the IMF.

17, 2008 July:

Eurozone inflates to record high

Inflation in the Eurozone is now at its highest level since measurements began.