Manufacturing
FeedWhy your Sunday roast is set to soar
Adrian Holliday
Sep 3rd 2010
Filed under: Economy, Investing, Manufacturing, Retail
The price of Sunday lunch is going up. Or it will be if you haven't turned vegetarian. Lamb prices are at a near 40-year high. Pork prices have soared and beef prices are also rising fast. Even mince is rising. Something's clearly cooking - but not your roast dinner if prices continue like this.Germany drives Q2 EU growth lift
Adrian Holliday
Sep 2nd 2010
Filed under: Economy, Markets, News , Manufacturing
Eurozone gross domestic product (GDP) lifted by 1% in the second quarter, according to EU stats agency Eurostat. Eurostat also lifted its estimate relative to the previous 2008 second quarter - meaning eurozone growth in the first quarter climbed from 0.2% to 0.3%. These growth figures mean the EU outperformed both the US and Japan.Manufacturing in UK and Eurozone falls
Adrian Holliday
Sep 1st 2010
Filed under: Company, Economy, Job Focus, Manufacturing
It was good while it lasted. Growth in the UK's manufacturing sector has lost its zip. The new Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Manufacturing PMI index slipped to 54.3 last month from an already downwardly revised 56.9 in July. This is a shock result, below analyst estimates. Eurozone growth has also faltered.Will Your Next Doctor Be a Robot?
DailyFinance.com
Aug 28th 2010
Filed under: Technology, Manufacturing, Creative industries
Next year, when IBM's Watson computer competes live against human contestants on TV, think of this: The machine might be your next doctor. A projected doctor shortage has been making headlines in the U.S. since the passage in March of health-care reform, which is expected to give 32 million more Americans health insurance by 2014.
Toyota hit by massive new car recall
Adrian Holliday
Aug 27th 2010
Filed under: Company, News , Manufacturing
Yet another big recall for Toyota. Just when the company had started to put the reliability scares behind it, Toyota is now having to recall 1.1m Corollas built between 2005-2008 over concerns that engines could unexpectedly cut out due to faulty engine control modules (ECMs).UK manufacturing optimism up - CBI
Adrian Holliday
Aug 19th 2010
Filed under: Economy, Manufacturing
UK manufacturers have reason to feel more optimistic. The latest business trends survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) claims factory orders is at a two-year high thanks to improving overseas orders. Another sign the upturn is gaining speed?Retail sales roar back in July claims ONS
Adrian Holliday
Aug 19th 2010
Filed under: Economy, Manufacturing, Retail, Leisure & hospitality
Retail sales in July climbed 1.1% higher compared to June claims the Office of National Statistics. Almost all retailers - from sports kit to household goods - saw rises. Textiles (5.5% rise) and non-specialised stores (9.7% rise) put in a particularly impressive performance. With so much bad news around, these figures are certainly a surprise.GM races back to NYSE with new IPO
Adrian Holliday
Aug 19th 2010
Filed under: Economy, Financial Crisis, Manufacturing, Retail, US
It's Government Motors no more. Or soon will be, General Motors hopes, thanks to its just-filed Securities and Exchange Commission application for a NYSE listing. It's good news for President Obama, keen to get bailed-out GM off the public back. But will GM be a good buy for punters?GM revival vindicates Obama bail out
David Burrows
Aug 17th 2010
Filed under: Manufacturing, US
One year on from the bail out of General Motors by the US government, it would appear that President Obama's interventionist stance has been proved right.
Back in 2009 the US president came under scathing criticism for pumping money into the badly run car giant. However with the benefit of hindsight his judgement then seems to have been vindicated.
Jaguar and Land Rover sales soar
Adrian Holliday
Aug 11th 2010
Filed under: Company, Economy, Job Focus, Manufacturing
The well-off are spending again. Land Rover and Jaguar sales are up - almost 60% for the last three months - though the sales growth is mainly from Asia. Jag and Land Rover owner Tata Motors have reported net profits of £273m for the three months up to June with revenues climbing 64%.
New UK car sales run out of acceleration
Adrian Holliday
Aug 5th 2010
Filed under: Debt, Manufacturing, Retail
New UK car sales plummeted 13% in July. It's the end of 12 successive monthly rises for the UK car industry following widespread car scrappage subsidies. "Subdued consumer confidence and a still fragile economic recovery," said Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) boss Paul Everitt, "make the outlook for the remainder of 2010 challenging, but a stronger than expected first half means full year volumes are still forecast to exceed 2009's total."
Bread (and bird) prices set to soar
Adrian Holliday
Aug 3rd 2010
Filed under: Economy, News , Manufacturing
Clueless new environment secretary Caroline Spelman recently had to ask her department officials to tell her the price of a loaf. At Daily Finance we're more clued-up on such basics. But you're warned, the price of a loaf (and your mid-morning biccy, not to mention your chicken sandwich) is about to leap. It's all down to rising wheat prices due to a huge drought in Russia. Wheat prices have soared almost 50% since late June. Meanwhile wheat-growing local markets like Russia and the Ukraine may cut exports to keep their own people fed.
Did Toyota safety fears begin in 2003?
Adrian Holliday
Aug 3rd 2010
Filed under: Company, Investing, Manufacturing, Retail
A damning US lawsuit claims Toyota was aware of mechanical concerns - namely unintended acceleration - with their cars as far back as 2003 but failed to fit a brake override system. These new allegations are outlined in a consolidated report attempting to hold Toyota responsible for a dramatic drop in resale values of its vehicles as the mechanical worries surfaced. Up to 40 million US Toyota owners could be affected if the allegations are upheld.
Ford completes Volvo deal to the Chinese
Adrian Holliday
Aug 2nd 2010
Filed under: Company, Investing, Manufacturing, Retail
Volvo cars is now officially under Chinese rule. The deal was officially completed today for $1.3bn to Geely Holding Group. Although it's a considerable sum, it's a stunning loss for Ford who bought Volvo in 1999 for $6.45bn.The Chinese claims the famous Swedish brand will remain true to "its core values of safety, quality, environmental care and modern Scandinavian design as it strengthens the existing European and North American markets."
New jobs fall but key sectors thrive
Chris Wheal
Aug 2nd 2010
Filed under: Economy, Job Focus, Insurance, Manufacturing
Reed Recruitment says demand for jobs fell back in July but reached record highs for general insurance, charity and voluntary, pre-qualified accountancy and manufacturing staff. The public sector had a record low.Salaries for new jobs stayed steady at 5% below the December 2009 Index base line figure, but the national average salary of £31,909 in July compared to £31,879 in June. Recession? What recession?
