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azuccolo15

Food, rental housing bump up U.S. consumer inflation - The Globe and Mail - 1 views

www.theglobeandmail.com/...article18000700

shared by azuccolo15 on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • U.S. consumer prices rose in March, but inflation pressures remained generally benign, which should give the Federal Reserve ample scope to keep interest rates low.
  • The Fed targets 2 per cent inflation and it tracks an index that is running even lower than the CPI. The rise last month could ease concerns among some policymakers about inflation being too low.
  • Economists polled by Reuters had expected a 0.1 per cent rise last month. In the 12 months through March, consumer prices increased 1.5 per cent after rising 1.1 per cent over the 12 months through February.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • The so-called core CPI, which strips out the volatile energy and food components, also rose 0.2 per cent in March after edging up 0.1 per cent the prior month.
  • In the 12 months through March, the core CPI advanced 1.7 per cent after rising 1.6 per cent in February.
  • The Labor Department said on Tuesday its Consumer Price Index increased 0.2 per cent last month as a rise in food and shelter costs offset a decline in gasoline prices. The CPI index had gained 0.1 per cent in February.
  • In March, food prices increased 0.4 per cent after rising by the same margin in February. A drought in the West has pushe
  • In March, food prices increased 0.4 per cent after rising by the same margin in February. A drought in the West has pushed up prices for meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables.
  • More price increases could be on the way after food prices at the factory gate posted their biggest gain in 10 months in March. Gasoline prices fell 1.7 per cent, declining for a third straight month.
  • Within the core CPI, shelter costs increased 0.3 per cent, which accounted for almost two-thirds of the rise in the index. Rents increased 0.3 per cent.There were also increases in medical care, apparel, used cars and trucks, airline fares and tobacco. The cost of recreation, and household furnishings fell.
Octav Ivanescu

Price freeze imposed in calamity zones | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philsta... - 1 views

www.philstar.com/...-freeze-imposed-calamity-zones

shared by Octav Ivanescu on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • MANILA, Philippines - The government has imposed a price freeze on basic commodities in areas placed under a state of calamity following the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda.c
  • The price freeze will be in effect for a maximum of 60 days, unless lifted by President Aquino.
  • The price freeze covers rice, corn, bread, and fresh, dried and canned fish, as well as other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry, eggs, fresh and processed vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergents, fire wood, charcoal, candles and medicine classified as essential by the Department of Health.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is an interesting article. It would be fun to see how you take this and apply it to what we have covered thus far.
azuccolo15

Food, housing costs rise sharply in March; overall inflation low - latimes.com - 0 views

www.latimes.com/...index-20140415,0,2564059.story

shared by azuccolo15 on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • Food and housing costs rose sharply in March, but overall inflation remained low, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.
  • The federal government's consumer price index rose 0.2% in March, a measurement that shows average price changes in goods and services purchased by Americans. In the last 12 months, overall core inflation -- excluding the volatile food and energy indexes -- rose 1.7%.
  • Recent drought and other extreme weather patterns have driven up the price of beef to all-time highs and that was reflected in the government's food index, which rose 0.4% in March, following an identical increase the month before. 
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • It showed much steeper increases in certain food categories. The index for poultry, meats and eggs, for instance, showed a second consecutive increase of 1.2% last month.
Andrei Vacarus

BBC News - E.On to raise energy prices by 3.7% - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25259976

energy prices

shared by Andrei Vacarus on 08 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • The increase will add £48 to the average dual fuel bill, and will take effect on 18 January.
  • Customers who only have an electricity account with E.On will see prices rise by an average of 3.7%, or £20 a year.
  • "Simply relying on the recent levy changes is not going far enough," she said.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • 4.6% more
  • British Gas, the UK's biggest energy supplier, has already announced that it will cut prices by 3.2% on 1 January, following the government rebate.
  • Victorita Paun on 12 Dec 13
     
    Good choice of article for micro-economics. There should be enough to analyse and evaluate.
azuccolo15

Climate change risk to food supplies - 0 views

www.latinamericanpost.com/...e-change-risk-to-food-supplies

shared by azuccolo15 on 09 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Climate change will pose sharp risks to the world’s food supply in coming decades, potentially undermining crop production and driving up prices at a time when the demand is expected to soar, scientists have found
  • rising temperatures will have some beneficial effects on crops in some places, but that globally they will make it harder for crops to thrive — perhaps reducing production over all by as much as 2 percent each decade for the rest of this century
  • The scientists describe a natural world in turmoil as plants and animals colonize new areas to escape rising temperatures, and warn that many could become extinct
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • While it did warn of risks and potential losses in output, particularly in the tropics, that report found that gains in production at higher latitudes would most likely offset the losses and ensure an adequate global supply
  • Hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent every year to reduce emissions in response to past findings from the group, though many analysts have said these efforts are so far inadequate to head off drastic climatic changes later in the century
  • On the food supply, the new report finds that benefits from global warming may be seen in some areas, like northern lands that are now marginal for food production. But it adds that over all, global warming could reduce agricultural production by as much as 2 percent each decade for the rest of this century.
  • During that period, demand is expected to rise as much as 14 percent each decade, the report found, as the world population is projected to grow to 9.6 billion in 2050, from 7.2 billion today, according to the United Nations, and as many of those people in developing countries acquire the money to eat richer diets.
  • Any shortfall would lead to rising food prices that would hit the world’s poor hardest, as has already occurred from price increases of recent years. Research has found that climate change, particularly severe heat waves, was a factor in those price spikes.
  • The agricultural risks “are greatest for tropical countries, given projected impacts that exceed adaptive capacity and higher poverty rates compared with temperate regions,” the draft report finds.
  • If the report proves to be correct about the effect on crops from climate change, global food demand might have to be met — if it can be met — by putting new land into production. That could entail chopping down large areas of forest, an action that would only accelerate climate change by sending substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the air from the destruction of trees
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    This particular article is in itself a commentary on the possible economic implications of climate change, and it does not leave much room for your own comments. There is a highs risk that you will be summarizing the article rather than responding to the information that it contains.
azuccolo15

Parliament Congratulates Gallant Farmers … As Dr. Owusu Afriyie Pleads For Ch... - 0 views

thechronicle.com.gh/nge-in-fertilizer-distribution

shared by azuccolo15 on 09 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie has suggested to government to move from the Invoice System of distributing fertilizers to farmers, to the Pass Book System
  • The Invoice System, according to Ranking Member for the Food and Agriculture committee in parliament, had accounted for increased smuggling of fertilizers in the last five years, whilst compelling farmers to purchase fertilizers at black market price.
  • “Change the system of distribution of fertilizers, during Kuffour’s regime, it was based on a card slip and every farmer has a pass book and there was sole distributor in the district and beyond. You go with your pass book and sign to receive two bags for which you pay the subsidized price
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Continuing, he said farmers do not get fertilizers to buy and even if they do, they pay black market price which was far more than the market price
  • For instance, he said this year, government had imported 180,000 tonnes of fertilizers but argued that the amount that would go to farmers was not known because under the invoice system of distribution, beneficiaries of the subsidized fertilizers could not be traced and recorded
  • He urged the government to channel a large chunk of the revenue that would be generated from the oil and gas sector into the development of agriculture in the country
  • And is our proposal to the government to increase their allocation to the ministry
  • The Atwima-Nwabiagya South MP urged his colleague MPs to use their positions to help solve the challenges the farmers faced in the countr
  • Mr. Abu, on his part, stressed the need to make the farming profession lucrative in order to reduce the retention rate and attract the youth.
  • “It is important that our farmers are encouraged to remain in Agriculture and adopt scientific and modern practices of farming to enable them increase their production and productivity every season to reduce hunger and poverty,” he said.
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    Also a good article for a discussion on subsidies, their role and consequences.
Giovanni Perini

UK workers set for first real pay rise for four years | Business | theguardian.com - 1 views

www.theguardian.com/...first-real-pay-rise-four-years

shared by Giovanni Perini on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • UK workers set for first real pay rise for four years
  • Wage increases are finally expected to overtake inflation when prices and job figures are released this week
  • Economists believe inflation ticked down to 1.6% in March from 1.7% in February while annual wage growth is thought to have been 1.8% in the three months to February
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • The thinktank expects the unemployment rate to have dropped to 7% in the three months to February
  • This week's official data may show that the squeeze on real pay is now over.
  • "That said, falling real incomes didn't get in the way of robust consumer spending growth over the last year. Household spending growth outpaced income growth as consumers saved less (or borrowed more)
  • "Earnings growth moving above consumer price inflation would also be a very welcome development for the government given Labour's focus on the cost of living.
  • Philip Shaw, economist at Investec, expects CPI to come in at 1.5%, which would be the lowest rate since October 2009, and he forecasts it will stay relatively low.
  • However we are keeping an eye on wholesale food prices – note that wheat prices (in sterling terms) are up 9.5% so far this year, while corn is 17% higher," he said.
Giovanni Perini

BBC News - Sheep farmers in Wales boosted by wool prices - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...uk-wales-25178650

shared by Giovanni Perini on 04 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • Sheep farmers in Wales boosted by wool prices
  • 35% of wool sold by the BWMB is now exported to China, double the percentage two years ago.
  • getting around 33p a kilo for their wool - in the current strong market we're seeing prices at £1.08
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • a matter simply of "supply and demand
  • wool is lighter because of the dry, warm weather this summer, but also we unfortunately received losses of sheep in north Wales this spring after the heavy snow there. That has also had an effect."
  • Wool producers have also reported greater demand for woollen goods.
  • "Because of an increase in the demand for our products we've had to increase production, and that means we've been able to absorb the higher cost of wool.
  • "We've bought new looms, taken on more staff and are making more products".
  • "It's encouraged people to appreciate wool," he said. "It's ecologically good, it's sustainable".
  • Giovanni Perini on 04 Jan 14
     
    This article is good for analysing the effects of supply and demand, how the higher prices is getting more people employed and the effects from there, as well as positive externalities of consumption and production because wool is ecologically good.
  • Alan Cheung on 06 Jan 14
     
    Yes, this article works as you stated. You'll have to explain carefully what ecologically good means when making connections to externalities.
Dursun N1

BBC News - Indonesia fuel prices rocket by 44% sparking protests - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-asia-23015511

shared by Dursun N1 on 07 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • Indonesia fuel prices rocket by 44%
  • sparking protests
  • Indonesia's government has cut a huge fuel subsidy
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • The subsidies are estimated to cost about $20bn a year, equivalent to almost 3% of Indonesia's total economic output.
  • Thousands of motorists rushed to fill up before midnight, after the measure was announced late on Friday.
  • petrol prices to rise by 44% and diesel by 22%.
  • The announcement sparked clashes in the capital, Jakarta, where protesters blocked roads and fought with police.
  • Indonesians had been demonstrating on the streets of many major cities all week in anticipation of the rise.
  • Victorita Paun on 08 Jan 14
     
    Interesting article discussing microeconomic concepts. Just make sure there is enough to foster a 750 words analysis. Please insert the highlights so it is clear which concepts you will be analysing.
  • Dursun N1 on 08 Jan 14
     
    This is an article about the drastic increase of fuel prices after Indonesia's government has decided to cut a huge fuel subsidy.
Giovanni Perini

BBC News - Under-age drinking crackdown called for - 3 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...health-25047079

shared by Giovanni Perini on 06 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Under-age drinking crackdown called for
  • Over a four-year period, just 16 people were convicted in the UK of buying alcohol for a child, it added.
  • The Institute of Alcohol Studies said tackling irresponsible shop promotions and minimum pricing would better tackle the UK's drinking problem.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "The real way to tackle to the problem of drinking in the UK is to address the bigger issues, such as pricing, through policies such as minimum unit pricing," she added.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
Jeremy Christianopoulos

Rotto businesses want ferry subsidy - The West Australian - 1 views

au.news.yahoo.com/...-businesses-want-ferry-subsidy

shared by Jeremy Christianopoulos on 05 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • subsidy on the growing cost of a ferry ticket to attract more people to the holiday island.
  • State Government's control of the island
  • pushing a same-day return ticket down to $30 in winter, with the help of a State Government subsidy
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • a simple measure that would automatically improve patronage.
  • "If that was the price wouldn't you say: 'Let's not go to Hillarys or somewhere else in Perth, let's go to Rotto have a beer and lunch and come back at five o'clock'," he said.
  • The current day trip for an adult is $75 return from Fremantle with Rottnest Express. A day return trip from Hillarys on Rottnest Fast Ferries comes in at $84
  • The prices include a $16.50 landing fee, which blows out to $21.50 for an extended stay.
  • estimated to be more than $5 million annually.
  • Mr Papandroulakis said he had informal talks with Premier Colin Barnett on the subsidy issue.
  • Rottnest Express director Glenn Gaynor said his company offered 40,000 heavily discounted tickets per year, at prices that often left them operating the ferry service at a loss.
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    In responding to this article there is room to evaluate the impact of the subsidy and the reasoning behind it, but you want to make sure that will be enough to meet the word limit and provide you with at least one diagram.
Sara Lair

New American Airlines CEO vows to make merger work - The Washington Post - 2 views

www.washingtonpost.com/...3-a7b4-4a75ebc432ab_story.html

shared by Sara Lair on 10 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • American Airlines and US Airways seem an unlikely couple, even to the man who will lead the combined company after their merger on Monday.
  • We know that something around 25 percent of our customers will go to the lowest price irrespective of time or inconvenience. In a low-margin business like ours, you can’t give up 25 percent of your customers, so we have to match on price.
  • Will you still compete chiefly on price?
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • What’s the new American’s frequent-flier program going to look like?
  • Nothing yet to announce. What we do know is this: Customers immediately will be able to combine their miles and use their miles to fly on a larger network.
  • Victorita Paun on 11 Dec 13
     
    This information highlighted by you lends itself to a short discussion on the law of demand and perhaps market structures and types of competition (the last two being topics which have yet to be covered - from what I understand). I do not believe it will be enough to meet the word count requiements for this assignment. However, there is a section in the article mentioning taxes and that may be a more consistent topic to comment on together with perhaps the explanation of your second excerpt selected above using demand elasticity.
Andrei Vacarus

More signs Abenomics is working as Japan prices, output rise | Reuters - 1 views

uk.reuters.com/...-economy-idUKBRE97T04U20130830

shared by Andrei Vacarus on 16 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • core consumer prices posted their biggest rise in nearly five years, unemployment fell to its lowest since late 2008, factory output rose and is expected to rise further, and workers' incomes rose.
  • The core-core inflation index, which excludes food and energy prices and is similar to the core index used in the United States, was down 0.1 percent in the year to July, a slower pace of decline than June's 0.2 percent fall.
  • Household spending edged up in the year to July as the feel-good sentiment prompted consumers to eat out more and spend more on travel and leisure.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • As the economy strengthens, the debate is focused on whether to double the tax in two stages or increase it more gradually, rather than whether or not to increase the tax.
  • Wage-earners' incomes also rose an annual 1.3 percent in July, increasing for the fifth straight month.
  • And the jobless rate improved for the second straight month to hit 3.8 percent in July, the lowest since October 2008.
  • e Bank of Japan have gambled on massive fiscal and monetary stimulus to spark life into the economy,
  • strengthening the case for a planned sales tax increase.
  • Pessimists have argued that the benefits of "Abenomics," a three-pillar strategy of fiscal and monetary stimulus combined with a long-term growth strategy, may be short-lived and won't prompt companies to spend more on investment and wages.
  • The Bank of Japan has a target of lifting inflation to 2 percent in about two years, a goal many analysts see as optimistic given the deflation that has dogged the economy.
Andrei Vacarus

BBC News - UK inflation falls to 1.6% in March - 0 views

www.bbc.com/...business-27033602

shared by Andrei Vacarus on 16 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • The UK inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell to 1.6% in March from 1.7% in February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
  • The rate of Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation also fell to 2.5% from 2.7%.
  • A smaller rise in the prices of clothing and footwear, compared with last year, also contributed to the drop in the inflation rate.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Average total earnings, including bonuses, rose 1.4% in the three months to January compared with a year earlier, according to ONS figures released last month. Excluding bonuses, wages grew by 1.3%.
Martina Minkova

German inflation hits three-year low in March | Business News | DW.DE | 11.04.2014 - 0 views

www.dw.de/...a-17559975

shared by Martina Minkova on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • German inflation hits three-year low in March
  • for the fourth consecutive month.
  • German inflation dropped
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Prices for heating oil and car fuels, for example, had fallen 4.2 percent compared with March 2013, Destatis announced.
  • , the agency announced, caused by decreasing prices for oil-based products over the course of a mild winter.
  • This was the lowest inflation rate in Germany since August 2010
  • The rate contrasts sharply with the 2 percent inflation goal the ECB considers desirable with regard to price stability.
  • The phenomenon is called deflation and is bad for the economy as a whole as it stalls investment and job creation, leading to shrinking output.
  • Germany's
  • Institute for the Global Economy, however, have predicted a sharp rise in inflation for later this year.
dgeorgiev15

Short supply, high demand sees avocado prices soar - Business - NZ Herald News - 0 views

www.nzherald.co.nz/...article.cfm

shared by dgeorgiev15 on 07 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • Avocado prices are soaring this summer due to short supply and high demand
  • latest crop had come in at only three million trays.
  • shortage of supply and an increased demand for avocados, which in a market economy means the price goes up
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • marketing, raising awareness of the fruit's health benefits,
  • fruit as a high value product, rather than a commodity.
  • Australia had been the largest overseas market for more than a decade
  • Alan Cheung on 07 Jan 14
     
    David, I much prefer this article over the car article. This article allows you to discuss many of the topics we've covered early in the semester. Don't forget to evaluate it.
anonymous

UK Interest Rates Will Hit 2.6% By 2017, says E&Y - 0 views

www.ibtimes.co.uk/ill-hike-base-rate-2-6-1444642

shared by anonymous on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • The Bank of England will hike its base interest rate from its record low to 2.6% within three years
  • Bank's ultra-loose monetary policy to keep markets liquid and the cost of credit down, therefore boosting the economy by supporting lending to businesses and consumers.
  • forecasts that the BoE base rate will rise to 0.7% in 2015 before hitting 1.6% in 2016 and spiking again to 2.6% in 2017.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • It is currently at its record-low of 0.5%
  • Ernst & Young (EY)
  • mortgage lending is on the rise again off the back of cheap credit made available
  • These mortgages are being taken out at a time of low interest rates, leaving borrowers exposed to higher repayment costs when the Bank of England lifts its base rate – and runs the risk of a wave of defaults.
  • London that will faces the biggest threat from interest rate rises because house prices in the city have soared.
  • house price in London leapt by 18.2%
Vicky Kalfayan

Shanghai's CPI sees slower rise from February | Shanghai Daily - 0 views

www.shanghaidaily.com/...shdaily.shtml

shared by Vicky Kalfayan on 15 Apr 14 - No Cached
  • SHANGHAI’S Consumer Price Index rose 2.5 percent from a year earlier
  • indicating moderate inflationary pressure in the city.
  • Food costs remained the biggest contributor as they rose 4.3 percent in March while prices of transport, healthcare and clothing all dropped, the bureau said.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • The city’s economy grew 7.7 percent last year
Giovanni Perini

BBC News - Guernsey taxes on alcohol, tobacco and fuel to rise in budget - 2 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-guernsey-24445235

shared by Giovanni Perini on 06 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Guernsey taxes on alcohol, tobacco and fuel to rise in budget
  • The increases will add 21p to a packet of 20 cigarettes, 40p to a typical bottle of spirits and 2.3p to a litre of petrol.
  • The income tax allowance is to rise by less than inflation, meaning an increase of £11.20 a year in income tax per wage earner, relative to the Retail Prices Index.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • As well as a permanent increase in the value of the bands determining the rate of duty to be paid, there will also be a temporary reduction of the rates paid on the lower bands.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    Topic wise, this is no different than your previous article. I think the previous one is more focused.
Martina Minkova

BBC News - US Black Friday sales dip for first time in seven years - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...business-25191657

shared by Martina Minkova on 03 Dec 13 - No Cached
  • Sales on the year's biggest shopping weekend dipped for the first time in seven years, according to the National Retail Federation.
  • Retailers blamed stagnant wages and economic uncertainty for keeping wallets shut, as they slashed prices to lure reluctant shoppers.
  • In total, the National Retail Federation estimates that US shoppers spent around $57.4bn this year, down 2.7% from $59.1bn last year.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Cyber Monday solution?
  • But if US consumers are unwilling to part with their dollars, international brands may take comfort in the increasingly global nature of Black Friday.
  • One beacon of hope for nervous retailers is that US consumers have spent more on online shopping than ever before.
  • a statement
  • Cyber Monday became the biggest US online shopping day of the year in 2011
  • Shoppers in Russia, South Korea, China, Germany and Sweden were the biggest spenders.
  • Alan Cheung on 12 Dec 13
     
    This is a good article. There should be plenty to analyse and evaluate.
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