It is useful to remind ourselves of the climate change trajectory we are on. This will have a significant impact for business, in terms of: Disruption/removal of production and supply chains Disruption/removal of customers willing or able to buy products and services Disruption/removal of capital as it is refocused instead to fund the protection from …
Category archives: Problems
How to weather the crisis
Since the problems the world is now facing are pretty much unprecedented, it seems to make sense to approach the situation with no preconceived ideas, and to focus simply on “what works”. In that vein, this article from The Daily Beast is interesting for one simple quote: “it’s interesting to note that it’s the countries …
US mortgage rate under 4%
Average US 30 year mortgage rates have fallen under 4% (variable). The 15 year fixed rate has also fallen, to 3.26%. However, widespread negative equity and more stringent qualification standards for mortgages mean that demand is expected to remain low. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/568cbb3c-f025-11e0-977b-00144feab49a.html
Obama’s priorities
President Obama chose to focus on three priorities in a press conference yesterday. He cited the credit crisis in Europe as “the biggest headwind” holding back the US economy. And he criticised Wall Street for banks’ fees, saying that the anti-Wall Street protest spreading across the USA was on the recognition that “not everybody’s been …
Rising Chinese labour costs alter global manufacturing landscape
As the US Senate confirmed its legislation to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, in response to China’s failure to allow its currency to appreciate, a new study by consulting group BCG shows that rising Chinese labour costs are already changing the economics of global manufacturing and could create three million jobs in the USA by 2020.
India launches $35-$60 tablet computer
The ultra-low cost tablet is designed to make e-learning available to more of India’s population. It will sell to students for $35 and to retail customers for $60. It is the same size as Amazon’s latest kindle, which costs $199 with more functionality. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9e714b34-ef53-11e0-918b-00144feab49a.html
Non-food retailing down in the UK
Disposable income is down as the costs of food, fuel, and utilities increase, and a range of non-food retailers, from Mothercare to Tesco are struggling as cash-strapped consumers are more careful in their spending. Profits warnings were issued by Mothercare and SuperGroup and Tesco has had its worst UK sales performance for 20 years, although global …
UK Industry trends:
Petrol, driving, and car maintenance down 0-5%. Bicycle sales up. Doughnuts, sausage rolls and other baked goods up, around 5%. Ted Baker (the high-end fashion company) reports six month sales up 17% on the same period last year. Asda, the low-end retailer, increased the dividend paid to its US parent company by £50m (from £100m …
Interim decision confirms foreign airlines must pay EU tax on carbon pollution
The final decision is expected in early 2012. Such preliminary decision have historically generally been confirmed by the final court ruling. This is good news for action on climate change, though slow. Airlines currently account for about three percent of global carbon emissions, but that share is growing fast. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36556726-f005-11e0-bc9d-00144feab49a.html
US economy stronger than expected
New figures on US manufacturing showed better than expected figures, lightening fears of a double-dip recession. At the same time US car sales rose strongly in September. (GM up 20%, Ford up 9% and Chrysler up 27% on a year ago.