Brazil February Inflation Rises More Than Expected

Brazil's consumer price inflation accelerated more than economists expected in February, data released by statistical office IBGE showed Friday.

Inflation as per the consumer price index increased to 6.31 percent in February from 6.15 percent in January, while economists had forecast a more modest acceleration to 6.2 percent.

The consumer price index moved up 0.6 percent compared to January, when it rose by 0.86 percent. Economists were looking for a 0.49 percent gain, data showed.

Food and beverages prices rose at a slower pace of 1.45 percent month-on-month in February than 1.99 percent in the previous month. Housing costs dropped 2.38 percent, after falling 0.2 percent in January.

Transportation costs were higher by 0.81 percent from the previous month, and costs of wearing apparel up by 0.55 percent, data showed.

2013-3-8 16:44

*Canadian Consumer Price Index Decreased 0.1% In January

Canadian Consumer Price Index Decreased 0.1% In January

2013-2-22 17:30

UK Output Price Inflation Slows In January

UK output price inflation eased to 2 percent in January from 2.2 percent in December, data released by the Office for National Statistics showed Tuesday.

On a monthly basis, the output price index rose 0.2 percent. Both the figures matched economists' forecasts.

Core producer price index, which exclude food, alcohol, tobacco and petroleum, rose 0.2 percent month-on-month.

Input prices increased 1.8 percent year-on-year in January, faster than a 0.5 percent increase in the previous month. This was also higher than the 1 percent rise expected by economists.

On a monthly basis, the input price index rose 1.3 percent, faster than the expected 0.9 percent increase.

2013-2-12 14:15

Slump In UK Household Finances Eases In January: Markit

An index of personal finances of U.K. households declined at a slower pace in January, helped mainly by improved perceptions about inflation, job security and credit availability, data from a survey by Markit Economics showed Monday.

The seasonally adjusted household finance index, which is designed to anticipate changing consumer behavior, moved up to 37.7 in January from 36.8 in December, which was the lowest reading in seven months.

Around 31 percent of respondents noted a deterioration in their financial situation, compared to 6 percent that saw an improvement. An index reading below 50 indicates decline in confidence, while one above suggests improvement.

The measure of households' intention to make major purchases fell at the slowest pace since October 2010, while job security dropped the least since the survey began in early 2009.

The outlook component of the index showed that British households are the least pessimistic about prospects for their personal finances in the next twelve months. At the same time, sentiment regarding ease of access to unsecured credit turned the least downbeat in the four-year survey history.

"The unfavorable economic backdrop and squeezed incomes are clearly making it difficult to keep household finances on an even keel," Markit Senior Economist Tim Moore said.

"Overall, however, households are having to making hay while the sun isn't shining, and January's upturn from the lows of 2012 suggests that some gradual financial improvements are being made in spite of fragile conditions across the UK economy."

2013-1-21 09:34

New Zealand ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Ticks Up In January

Confidence among New Zealand consumers increased in January as they remained upbeat about the general economic conditions, a survey by ANZ and Roy Morgan revealed Thursday.

The consumer confidence index rose to 118.3 in January from 114.7 in December. Readings above the 100 mark are taken as a net positive.

The current conditions index rose 8 points to 117, while future conditions index increased at the margin to 119, its highest level since mid 2011.

Consumers feel marginally less worse off financially than a year earlier with the corresponding index rising to -5 from -7 in the previous month.

The indicator measuring households' expectations regarding their own financial prospects in the year ahead fell marginally to 29 from 31 in December. However, the sentiment is still regarded as positive, the survey report said.

Consumers' outlook on the general economy one year ahead are better. Sentiment towards the economy five years out remains solid at 21, though down on the month prior, the report said.

2013-1-17 07:46