UK joins US as economic growth engine of world January 13, 2015 Britain and the US are set to grow strongly, the World Bank said last night, defying the malaise which is overtaking the Eurozone and much of the developing world. Crashing oil prices should give those economies a cushion, which the analysts said should be used for crucial economic reforms to restore competitiveness and growth. Economists [...]
More money in your pocket: Tumbling oil prices, £1 a litre petrol, supermarket price wars and mortgage provider competition January 12, 2015 Britons should be able to loosen their purse strings further this year, with tumbling oil prices, a supermarket price war and intense competition between mortgage providers forcing down the average cost of living. Supermarket chains Morrisons and Sainsbury’s – which together operate over 600 petrol stations – will both cut the price of unleaded petrol [...]
Tumbling oil price eats into FTSE 100’s morning increase – London Report January 12, 2015 FALLS on Wall Street dragged back the FTSE 100’s early gains yesterday, as heavily weighted oil and energy companies dropped there as well as in Europe. The premier index was little changed at 6,501.42, up just 0.28 points. By comparison, Germany’s Dax and France’s Cac, which have less exposure to oil producers, were up over [...]
Oil crashes to new six-year low after Goldman Sachs cuts forecasts January 12, 2015 Oil crashed to a new six-year low after Goldman Sachs became the latest banking giant to cut forecasts, saying the price of the black stuff must fall further if it's to discourage investment in its rival shale gas. Brent crude broke the $48 per barrel mark this afternoon taking it to its lowest level since [...]
Petrol price cut by 2p as big four supermarkets fuel price war brings £1 a lite petrol ever closer January 12, 2015 There seems to be no let-up in the supermarket fuel price war as another wave of cuts to the price of petrol was announced on Monday. The big four supermarkets are all slicing 2p off their petrol and diesel. Unfortunately for motorists, the supermarkets are still some way off being able to retail for below [...]
At last – 99p petrol is here… in Birmingham January 12, 2015 Motorists can finally fill up their tanks for less than £1 a litre – as long as they’re prepared to drive to the Midlands. The bargain petrol went on sale at the Harvest Energy service station in Birmingham for 99.7p. The motoring organisation RAC said the price was the lowest it had seen in the [...]
George Osborne warned oil and gas firms cannot afford North Sea tax regime January 11, 2015 The chancellor must drop taxes on North Sea oil and gas firms as quickly as he raised them, Oil & Gas UK said yesterday. Following the Autumn Statement in December, the Treasury said it would introduce a single basin-wide investment allowance, designed to “reward investment and simplify the tax regime”, as part of a package [...]
Falling oil prices help the UK close its trade deficit January 9, 2015 The UK's trade gap is narrowing, as falling oil prices drive down the price of imports relative to exports. According to the Office for National Statistics, in November last year the deficit fell to £1.4bn – a decrease of £1.1bn from the previous month and lower than any point since June 2013. This [...]
Federal Reserve upbeat on growth prospects thanks to collapse in price of oil January 7, 2015 Falling oil prices should give another boost to the economy, officials at the Federal Reserve said yesterday, despite the damage being caused to US oil and gas producers. Minutes from the Federal Open Markets Committee’s latest meeting show the policymakers believe the net effect will be positive. The price is falling both because of strong supply [...]
World Bank urges states to fix finances as oil prices stay low January 7, 2015 The World Bank has warned developing countries to build up crisis buffers while oil prices are low. The organisation said the developing nations were “faced with weaker export prospects, an impending rise in global interest rates and fragile financial market sentiment”. The use of fiscal stimulus as a response to the financial crisis means many [...]