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Economy

UK merger and acquisition activity slowed dramatically in the first quarter of the year.

The trend in employment is increasing while those in unemployment and inactivity are falling.

UK consumers lost an estimated £6.6bn in the 12 months through poor products or services.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual inflation was 2.5 per cent in March, unchanged from February.

Takaful growth has outpaced that in conventional insurance in most countries of the Middle East.

Research by Ernst & Young reveals that profit warnings reached 114 in the first quarter of 2008.

In March, output price annual inflation for all manufactured products rose to 6.2 per cent.

The Monetary Policy Committee has cut the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves by 0.25 percentage points to 5.0.

March saw a modest rise in permanent staff appointments following February’s slight decline.

Industry experts will advise the Government on improvements to mortgage finance markets.

The Institute of Directors warns that UK GDP growth will fall to 1.7 per cent in 2008 and remain weak at 1.5 per cent in 2009.

A quarter point cut in interest rates is needed to help business and consumers, the CBI has said.

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