There was a crucial moment when Nick Clegg was missing from the political radar, but when he popped up at the debates, the political police, the FBI of policy, nabbed him, and suddenly he just wasn't Mr Popular.
Weeks of scrutiny are putting Clegg's Liberal Democrats back where they belong, in a vaguely relevant position.
With this election too close to call, Labour and the Conservatives are playing the roles of big banker and small business. Dave 'The Banker' Cameron, pretends to be offering the best deal on the High Street, but really, it's only for those with big fat wallets. Gordon 'I'm not sure I agree with Nick anymore' Brown, is the MD of a business which did well in the good times, but just can't catch a break when the squeeze is squeezing.
Dave pretends he really, really understands the plight of the British people, and feels a little sorry they didn't get bailed out, like him, in life's fiscal lottery. Gordon 'gets it', though what every MD will tell you; when your back's against the wall, telling consumers their service levels will improve next year just doesn't cut it.
Gordon has turned a profit into a loss. Dave has one lesson left to lend to Gordon - what every big bank will tell you - some businesses are too big to fail. Labour may be politically insolvent, but they are still in the game, and with a little luck, a little pleading, and stone cold plausability, they may yet win the largest number of seats. If not, Cameron will call in the nation's overdraft, and we will feel a squeeze that will make many squeal.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Friday, 30 April 2010
"I'm sorry, oh, so sorry..."
The ghost of Major past is lurking.
Former British Prime Minister John Major's monumental ransacking of political polls in the final week of campaigning is keeping alive the hopes of Labour Party diehards.
Major defied the settled political wisdom of the time to squeak home with a narrow majority. A softening of the Liberal Democrat's inflated poll figures would help ensure Labour retains the majority of seats, and if Labour finishes no worse than second, the opportunity to form a coalition government will remain.
By his own admission, he's a bit biased, but worth a read: http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog.php
Former British Prime Minister John Major's monumental ransacking of political polls in the final week of campaigning is keeping alive the hopes of Labour Party diehards.
Major defied the settled political wisdom of the time to squeak home with a narrow majority. A softening of the Liberal Democrat's inflated poll figures would help ensure Labour retains the majority of seats, and if Labour finishes no worse than second, the opportunity to form a coalition government will remain.
By his own admission, he's a bit biased, but worth a read: http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog.php
Friday, 8 January 2010
EU27 Unemployment Rate Reaches 9.5%
The euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in November 2009, compared with 9.9% in October. It was 8.0% in November 2008. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.5% in November 2009, compared with 9.4% in October. It was 7.5% in November 2008. For the euro area this is the highest rate since August 1998 and for the EU27 since the start of the series (January 2000).
Eurostat estimates that 22.899 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 15.712 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2009. Compared with October, the number of persons unemployed increased by 185 000 in the EU27 and by 102 000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2008, unemployment went up by 4.978 million in the EU27 and by 3.041 million in the euro area.
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (3.9%) and Austria (5.5%), and the highest rates in Latvia (22.3%) and Spain (19.4%).
Compared with a year ago, all Member States recorded an increase in their unemployment rate. The smallest increases were observed in Germany (7.1% to 7.6%), Luxemburg (5.2% to 6.0%) and Malta (6.2% to 7.0%). The highest increases were registered in Latvia (10.2% to 22.3%), Estonia (6.5% to 15.2% between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009) and Lithuania (6.4% to 14.6% between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009).
Source: Eurostat
Eurostat estimates that 22.899 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 15.712 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2009. Compared with October, the number of persons unemployed increased by 185 000 in the EU27 and by 102 000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2008, unemployment went up by 4.978 million in the EU27 and by 3.041 million in the euro area.
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (3.9%) and Austria (5.5%), and the highest rates in Latvia (22.3%) and Spain (19.4%).
Compared with a year ago, all Member States recorded an increase in their unemployment rate. The smallest increases were observed in Germany (7.1% to 7.6%), Luxemburg (5.2% to 6.0%) and Malta (6.2% to 7.0%). The highest increases were registered in Latvia (10.2% to 22.3%), Estonia (6.5% to 15.2% between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009) and Lithuania (6.4% to 14.6% between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009).
Source: Eurostat
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Air Passenger Transport Up by 0.6% in 2008
Declining Trend Through The Year
The total number of passengers transported by air in the EU27 rose by 0.6% in 2008, compared with 2007, to 798 million. This was the lowest annual growth rate in the EU since 2002.
Data lag does not give a clear indication of the sector today, but points to demand resilience in a very turbulent economy. As Europes' economies recovery, demand for air travel is expected rebound quickly.
Passenger numbers rose by 6.1% in the first quarter of 2008, compared with the same quarter of 2007, and by 3.0% in the second quarter, then they fell by 0.4% in the third quarter and by 5.6% in the fourth quarter.
In the EU27, the number of passengers on extra-EU flights rose by 4.2% in 2008, compared with 2007, to 282 million. The number of passengers decreased by 0.5% to 345 million on intra-EU flights, and by 2.9% to 171 million on national flights.
These figures are published in a report2 from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, on air transport in the EU27 in 2008. This report also looks in detail at national, intra-EU and extra-EU air transport passengers, as well as the most important airport pairs, nationally and internationally.
London/Heathrow, Paris/Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt/Main busiest passenger airports
In 2008, the highest numbers of passengers were registered in the United Kingdom (214 mn, -1.6% compared with 2007), Germany (166 mn, +1.2%), Spain (161 mn, -1.3%), France (123 mn, +2.2%) and Italy (105 mn, -1.0%). The number of air passengers rose in 21 Member States and fell in six. The highest increases in the number of air passengers were recorded in Latvia (+16.8%), Romania and Slovakia (both +16.3%) and Lithuania (+16.2%), and the largest decreases in Hungary (-1.8%), the United Kingdom (-1.6%) and Spain (-1.3%).
Among the top ten airports in terms of passengers carried in 2008, only three registered increases in the number of passengers: Paris/Charles de Gaulle (+1.6%), Roma/Fiumicino (+7.4%) and München (+1.7%). London/Heathrow was still the EU’s busiest passenger airport, with 67 million passengers handled in 2008, down by 1.4% compared with 2007. Paris/Charles de Gaulle (60 mn, +1.6%) and Frankfurt/Main (53 mn, -1.2%) were the second and third busiest airports, followed by Madrid/Barajas (50 mn, -1.6%) and Amsterdam/Schiphol (47 mn, -0.7%).
London/Heathrow (39 mn) handled the most extra-EU passengers, Amsterdam/Schiphol (27 mn) the most intra-EU passengers and Madrid/Barajas (21 mn) the most national passengers.
Madrid - Barcelona, Roma - Milano, Paris - Toulouse and Paris - Nice busiest national routes. In 2008, the top five extra-EU routes all involved London Heathrow. The corresponding extra-EU airports in these five airport pairs were New York/JFK (2.8 mn, -1.3% compared with 2007), Dubai International (1.7 mn, +5.1%), Hong Kong International (1.5 mn, +2.8%), Los Angeles International (1.5 mn, +3.9%) and Chicago/O'Hare (1.5 mn, -9.0%).
The busiest national routes in 2008 were Madrid/Barajas - Barcelona with 3.5 million passengers, although down by 24.4% compared with 2007, Roma/Fiumicino - Milano/Linate (2.5 mn, -1.1%), Paris/Orly - Toulouse Blagnac (2.3 mn, -0.1%) and Paris/Orly - Nice/Côte d'Azur (2.3 mn, -1.3%). The busiest intra-EU routes were London Heathrow - Dublin (1.8 mn, -8.2%) and London Heathrow - Amsterdam/Schiphol (1.7 mn, -5.0%).
Source: Eurostat
The total number of passengers transported by air in the EU27 rose by 0.6% in 2008, compared with 2007, to 798 million. This was the lowest annual growth rate in the EU since 2002.
Data lag does not give a clear indication of the sector today, but points to demand resilience in a very turbulent economy. As Europes' economies recovery, demand for air travel is expected rebound quickly.
Passenger numbers rose by 6.1% in the first quarter of 2008, compared with the same quarter of 2007, and by 3.0% in the second quarter, then they fell by 0.4% in the third quarter and by 5.6% in the fourth quarter.
In the EU27, the number of passengers on extra-EU flights rose by 4.2% in 2008, compared with 2007, to 282 million. The number of passengers decreased by 0.5% to 345 million on intra-EU flights, and by 2.9% to 171 million on national flights.
These figures are published in a report2 from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, on air transport in the EU27 in 2008. This report also looks in detail at national, intra-EU and extra-EU air transport passengers, as well as the most important airport pairs, nationally and internationally.
London/Heathrow, Paris/Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt/Main busiest passenger airports
In 2008, the highest numbers of passengers were registered in the United Kingdom (214 mn, -1.6% compared with 2007), Germany (166 mn, +1.2%), Spain (161 mn, -1.3%), France (123 mn, +2.2%) and Italy (105 mn, -1.0%). The number of air passengers rose in 21 Member States and fell in six. The highest increases in the number of air passengers were recorded in Latvia (+16.8%), Romania and Slovakia (both +16.3%) and Lithuania (+16.2%), and the largest decreases in Hungary (-1.8%), the United Kingdom (-1.6%) and Spain (-1.3%).
Among the top ten airports in terms of passengers carried in 2008, only three registered increases in the number of passengers: Paris/Charles de Gaulle (+1.6%), Roma/Fiumicino (+7.4%) and München (+1.7%). London/Heathrow was still the EU’s busiest passenger airport, with 67 million passengers handled in 2008, down by 1.4% compared with 2007. Paris/Charles de Gaulle (60 mn, +1.6%) and Frankfurt/Main (53 mn, -1.2%) were the second and third busiest airports, followed by Madrid/Barajas (50 mn, -1.6%) and Amsterdam/Schiphol (47 mn, -0.7%).
London/Heathrow (39 mn) handled the most extra-EU passengers, Amsterdam/Schiphol (27 mn) the most intra-EU passengers and Madrid/Barajas (21 mn) the most national passengers.
Madrid - Barcelona, Roma - Milano, Paris - Toulouse and Paris - Nice busiest national routes. In 2008, the top five extra-EU routes all involved London Heathrow. The corresponding extra-EU airports in these five airport pairs were New York/JFK (2.8 mn, -1.3% compared with 2007), Dubai International (1.7 mn, +5.1%), Hong Kong International (1.5 mn, +2.8%), Los Angeles International (1.5 mn, +3.9%) and Chicago/O'Hare (1.5 mn, -9.0%).
The busiest national routes in 2008 were Madrid/Barajas - Barcelona with 3.5 million passengers, although down by 24.4% compared with 2007, Roma/Fiumicino - Milano/Linate (2.5 mn, -1.1%), Paris/Orly - Toulouse Blagnac (2.3 mn, -0.1%) and Paris/Orly - Nice/Côte d'Azur (2.3 mn, -1.3%). The busiest intra-EU routes were London Heathrow - Dublin (1.8 mn, -8.2%) and London Heathrow - Amsterdam/Schiphol (1.7 mn, -5.0%).
Source: Eurostat
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
EU17 Industrial Producer Prices Down 0.7%
Prices Weaken For EU 27, But Bulgaria Climbs As UK Drops Further
In September 2009 compared with August 2009, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.4% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.7% in the EU272. In August, prices increased by 0.5% in both zones.
In September 2009 compared with September 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 7.7% in the euro area and by 7.3% in the EU27.
Monthly changes
In September 2009, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector remained stable in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 1.9% and 2.6% respectively. In both zones, durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.1%, while intermediate goods increased by 0.2%. Capital goods declined by 0.1% in the euro area, but remained stable in the EU27.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total index were recorded in Bulgaria (+1.2%), Estonia (+0.4%), Cyprus and Slovenia (both +0.3%). The largest decreases were observed in Greece, Finland and the United Kingdom (all -0.8%) and Lithuania (-0.7%).
Source: Eurostat
In September 2009 compared with August 2009, the industrial producer price index fell by 0.4% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.7% in the EU272. In August, prices increased by 0.5% in both zones.
In September 2009 compared with September 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 7.7% in the euro area and by 7.3% in the EU27.
Monthly changes
In September 2009, compared with the previous month, prices in total industry excluding the energy sector remained stable in both the euro area and the EU27. Prices in the energy sector fell by 1.9% and 2.6% respectively. In both zones, durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.1%, while intermediate goods increased by 0.2%. Capital goods declined by 0.1% in the euro area, but remained stable in the EU27.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total index were recorded in Bulgaria (+1.2%), Estonia (+0.4%), Cyprus and Slovenia (both +0.3%). The largest decreases were observed in Greece, Finland and the United Kingdom (all -0.8%) and Lithuania (-0.7%).
Source: Eurostat
Monday, 26 October 2009
Industrial New Orders Up by 2.0% in Euro Area
Industrial new orders up by 1.2% in EU27
In August 2009 compared with July 2009, the euro area1 (EA16) industrial new orders index2 rose by 2.0%. In July3 the index increased by 3.0%. In the EU271 new orders grew by 1.2% in August 2009, after an increase of 1.6% in July3. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders rose by 2.4% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27.
In August 2009 compared with August 2008, industrial new orders decreased by 23.1% in the euro area and by 22.3% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4 dropped by 22.7% in the euro area and by 22.2% in the EU27.
These estimates are released by Eurostat
In August 2009 compared with July 2009, the euro area1 (EA16) industrial new orders index2 rose by 2.0%. In July3 the index increased by 3.0%. In the EU271 new orders grew by 1.2% in August 2009, after an increase of 1.6% in July3. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new orders rose by 2.4% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27.
In August 2009 compared with August 2008, industrial new orders decreased by 23.1% in the euro area and by 22.3% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4 dropped by 22.7% in the euro area and by 22.2% in the EU27.
These estimates are released by Eurostat
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Euro Area Unemployment Reaches 9.6%
The euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.6% in August 2009, compared with 9.5% in July. It was 7.6% in August 2008. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.1% in August 2009, compared with 9.0% in July. It was 7.0% in August 2008. For the euro area this is the highest rate since March 1999 and for the EU27 since March 2004.
Eurostat estimates that 21.872 million men and women in the EU27, of which 15.165 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in August 2009. Compared with July, the number of persons unemployed increased by 236 000 in the EU27 and by 165 000 in the euro area. Compared with August 2008, unemployment went up by 5.008 million in the EU27 and by 3.224 million in the euro area.
These figures are published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (3.5%) and Austria (4.7%), and the highest rates in Spain (18.9%) and Latvia (18.3%).
Compared with a year ago, all Member States recorded an increase in their unemployment rate. The smallest increases were observed in Belgium (7.5% to 7.9%) and Germany (7.2% to 7.7%). The highest increases were registered in Latvia (7.4% to 18.3%) and Estonia (4.1% to 13.3% between the second quarters of 2008 and 2009).
Between August 2008 and August 2009, the unemployment rate for males rose from 7.0% to 9.4% in the euro area and from 6.7% to 9.1% in the EU27. The female unemployment rate increased from 8.3% to 9.8% in the euro area and from 7.5% to 9.0% in the EU27.
In August 2009, the youth unemployment rate (under-25s) was 19.7% in the euro area and 19.8% in the EU27. In August 2008 it was 15.6% and 15.5% respectively. The lowest rate was observed in the Netherlands (6.3%), and the highest rates in Spain (39.2%) and Lithuania (31.2% in the second quarter of 2009).
The unemployment rate was 9.7% in the USA in August 2009. In Japan it was 5.7% in July 2009.
Eurostat estimates that 21.872 million men and women in the EU27, of which 15.165 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in August 2009. Compared with July, the number of persons unemployed increased by 236 000 in the EU27 and by 165 000 in the euro area. Compared with August 2008, unemployment went up by 5.008 million in the EU27 and by 3.224 million in the euro area.
These figures are published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (3.5%) and Austria (4.7%), and the highest rates in Spain (18.9%) and Latvia (18.3%).
Compared with a year ago, all Member States recorded an increase in their unemployment rate. The smallest increases were observed in Belgium (7.5% to 7.9%) and Germany (7.2% to 7.7%). The highest increases were registered in Latvia (7.4% to 18.3%) and Estonia (4.1% to 13.3% between the second quarters of 2008 and 2009).
Between August 2008 and August 2009, the unemployment rate for males rose from 7.0% to 9.4% in the euro area and from 6.7% to 9.1% in the EU27. The female unemployment rate increased from 8.3% to 9.8% in the euro area and from 7.5% to 9.0% in the EU27.
In August 2009, the youth unemployment rate (under-25s) was 19.7% in the euro area and 19.8% in the EU27. In August 2008 it was 15.6% and 15.5% respectively. The lowest rate was observed in the Netherlands (6.3%), and the highest rates in Spain (39.2%) and Lithuania (31.2% in the second quarter of 2009).
The unemployment rate was 9.7% in the USA in August 2009. In Japan it was 5.7% in July 2009.
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