1. UK Retail
The Mo Winne Lose
The UK recession may not be as bad as initially expected, with retail sales figures on the rise. The Office for National Statistics has reported that sales volumes rose by 0.3% last month, and were up 2.8% from a year earlier. Experts say that stronger rises in factory output and the construction sector, as well as a drop in unemployment levels could mean that the national income measured by gross domestic product (GDP) is not shrinking as fast as first estimated. The number of people out of work in the UK fell by 46,000 in the three months to June, as well as the unemployment rate dropping to 8%. “The latest UK retail sales figures are pretty good - as much for the upward revisions to past months as for July’s figure,” said Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics. “What’s more, sales should maintain this recent positive momentum in the near term as the boost from the Olympics comes through.”
2. Music Streaming
Music streaming revenues have increased by 40% globally in 2012. On-demand services such as Spotify are estimated to generate £696m for the global music industry in 2012. Streaming music is now the fastest growing sector in the industry, overtaking downloads. CD’s and vinyl still dominate the industry with 61% of the music market worldwide, yet sales of physical products have still dropped 12% globally and 30% in the UK. Strategy Analytics, who have collated the data, have also predicted that by 2015 digital music will overtake physical products both in the UK and worldwide. The BPI, which represents record labels in the UK, says that in the first three months of 2012, subscription- based music services were worth just under £9m, a 93% increase year-on-year. Digital downloads are expected to be worth £194m to the UK industry in 2012.
3. Latin America
Latin American countries are seeing a huge boom in their economy, with skyscrapers being built in Bogotá to accommodate new office and retail space and Mexico being hailed as a top foreign investor, outstripping GDP forecasts. Brazil has also overtaken the UK as the world’s sixth biggest economy, announcing a $66bn stimulus plan along with the money they will splash out to prepare for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. In Santiago, house prices are soaring, hundreds of restaurants are being built and cranes are littering the skyline.
Wen forces his
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60