Economic News

US consumer price inflation remained unchanged in November, as the cost of petrol continued to fall. The latest consumer price index report surprised analysts, many of whom had predicted a 0.2% rise in prices. Overall US inflation is on track to rise at an annual rate of 2.2% in 2006, down from last year's 3.4% rise. November's inflation data will come as welcome news for the Federal Reserve, which has been working to slow down the economy through higher interest rates. Earlier this month,  ...

LONDON (AFX) - European government bonds ended the week higher, tracking US markets after inflation data there came in lower than expected. The US consumer price index failed to rise for the third month in a row, boosting views that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates next year. The CPI remained unchanged in November from October, against expectations for a 0.2 pct increase. "To a de ...

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Consumer inflation was a no-show in November as Americans enjoyed a third straight month of price relief led by big declines in energy costs. The Labor Department reported Friday that consumer prices were unchanged last month, even better than the small 0.2 percent analysts had been expecting. Prices had actually fallen by 0.5 percent in both September and October. The good ...

LONDON (AFX) - Sterling markets will be kept busy in the run-up to Christmas as a raft of economic news over the coming week could well have a major bearing on the outlook for UK borrowing costs. Tuesday, Dec 19 The closely-monitored house price survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is likely to show the market remained buoyant in November. Analysts polled by AFX News expect  ...

WASHINGTON (AFX) - Consumer inflation was a no-show in December as Americans enjoyed a third straight month of price relief led by big declines in energy costs. The Labor Department reported Friday that consumer prices were unchanged last month, even better than the small 0.2 percent analysts had been expecting. Prices had actually fallen by 0.5 percent in both September and October. The good ...

LONDON (AFX) - The yen failed to garner much support from a key Japanese business survey as the data was not strong enough to alter market expectations that the Bank of Japan will keep borrowing costs on hold later next week. The BoJ's closely-watched Tankan survey showed confidence among the country's big manufacturers rose for the third quarter running to a two-year high of 25 in December from  ...

WASHINGTON (AFX) - If China made its currency more flexible, it would improve the standard of the living of the Chinese people and foster economic stability around the world, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced in Beijing on Friday that China had pledged greater exchange rate flexibility but gave no timetable at the end of two days of  ...

TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Japanese companies were more upbeat about business conditions in the current quarter compared to the previous three months with sentiment among large manufacturers hitting a fresh two-year high and those among small firms, which employ bulk of the work force, rising sharply, according to the central bank's latest business sentiment survey or Tankan. The December Tankan also con ...

Thu 14th Dec 2006 The price of the average property in the UK will soar by £14,000 next year should inflation reach eight per cent, according to Nationwide Building Society. An average house in Britain is currently £172,185, meaning that should the prediction become a reality, this will rise to £186,000. Factors such as a buoyant economy coupled with a property shortag ...

LONDON (AFX) - The dollar was stuck in a tight range against the euro, with Asian central banks said to be buying the European currency each time it dips. The dollar found limited support from a stronger-than-expected jobless claims report and gains were fast eroded. "Euro-dollar continues to find sovereign buyers on dips. An Asian name was rumoured to be buying just below 1.3170 usd suppor ...