Economy : Page 915

Bank of England votes to keep interest rates unchanged

February 4, 2016 The Bank of England voted unanimously to keep interest rates unchanged on Thursday amid low inflation and weak global growth.

Growth slows in Germany, business confidence highest

February 4, 2016 The economic upturn in Germany’s service sector slowed slightly at the beginning of 2016, with activity, new orders and employment all rising at weaker, albeit still robust, rates.

Eurozone economic growth slows to four-month low

February 4, 2016 The eurozone economy made a disappointing start to 2016. January saw the rate of output growth ease to one of the weakest over the past year.

UK services posts further solid rise in output

February 4, 2016 The UK's dominant service sector registered a further solid rate of expansion in January, according to the latest PMI survey data from Markit and CIPS.

Private sector output in Brazil falls for record 11th month

February 4, 2016 January saw Brazil’s economic recession weighing on the private sector for another month.

Volume of retail trade up by 0.3% in euro area

February 4, 2016 In December 2015 compared with November 2015, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade increased by 0.3% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.1% in the EU28.

Euro area unemployment rate lowest since September 2011

February 4, 2016 The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.4% in December 2015, down from 10.5% in November 2015, and from 11.4% in December 2014.

Global consumer confidence declined two points from Q3

February 3, 2016 Global consumer confidence ended 2015 on a subdued note as the index declined two points from the third quarter to 97—the same score as the start of the year.

Government policies can lift growth in South Africa

February 3, 2016 Government policies that promote greater domestic competition and improve the regulatory environment could lift growth, says the South Africa Economic Update by the World Bank.

U.S. economic confidence index flat at -11 in January

February 3, 2016 Americans' confidence in the economy last month was unchanged from December. Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index averaged -11 for January.

Growth of global manufacturing remains subdued at start of 2016

February 3, 2016 The global manufacturing sector registered a mild growth acceleration at the start of 2016.

Weakest expansion of UK construction output for nine months

February 3, 2016 January data pointed to a renewed slowdown in output growth across the UK construction sector.