Latest news with #ConsumerPriceInflation
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Take online 'PIP test' to see if DWP changes next year could affect your payments
An independent benefits forum has updated its online PIP test to include proposed changes to the daily living component. The planned welfare reforms from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have left many people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit worried about the future of their payment award. If the proposals are passed into legislation this November, they will come into force in November 2026. PIP payments will continue to rise each year in-line with the September Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rate, however, assessments will change and the eligibility criteria is set to get tougher. To qualify for the daily living component of PIP, new and existing claimants will need to score four points in at least one of the 10 questions - and at least another four (in any combination) across the rest of the sections - to qualify for the standard rate. To help people who may be a bit confused by the proposed change, the team of benefits experts at the independent forum Benefits and Work, have tweaked their online 'PIP test' to incorporate the proposed scoring system. This will help people find out whether they would qualify for the daily living component before the planned changes are implemented. The Benefits and Work website explains: 'We know from comments and emails that a lot of people are confused about how Labour's proposed new PIP scoring system works. So we've created an online test to allow you to try the scoring system for yourself. 'You can try the test as many times as you want either anonymously or, if you prefer, provide your email address and get the results sent to your inbox as well as appearing onscreen.' It's important to be aware the proposed changes will not be applied to the mobility component, it will remain the same. Nearly 500,000 people in Scotland in receipt of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) will not be affected by changes to PIP. All remaining PIP claimants living in Scotland will transfer to the devolved IT system before the end of this year. There are 10 questions on the daily living part of the PIP 2 evidence form. Each of the questions has a list of responses, known as descriptors, whichever descriptor you choose is awarded points. To qualify for the daily living component, you need at least eight points for the standard rate and 12 or more for the enhanced rate. But you would need to get a score of at least four in one of those questions to qualify. Benefits and Work explained: 'If you select 4 descriptors scoring two points each, that will be 8 points but it will not qualify for an award. 'But if you select one descriptor scoring 4 points and two descriptors scoring 2 points, that will be 8 points and you will qualify for an award.' You can take the new 'PIP test' online here. The latest figures from the DWP show at the end of April more that 3.7 million people were in claim for PIP, which is now worth between £114.8 and £737.20 every four weeks. Daily living component for PIP You might get the daily living component of PIP if you need help with: eating, drinking or preparing food washing, bathing, using the toilet, managing incontinence dressing and undressing talking, listening, reading and understanding managing your medicines or treatments making decisions about money mixing with other people How difficulty with tasks is assessed The DWP will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task, the DWP will look at: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you how often your condition affects this activity whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment The descriptors Your ability to carry out each activity is measured against a list of standard statements describing what you can or cannot do. These are known as the descriptors. The health professional will advise the DWP which descriptor applies to you for each activity. The Citizen's Advice website has a whole section dedicated to this along with a downloadable guide to all the points awarded for each response - you can view this here. An example they use is there are six descriptors for 'Dressing and undressing', ranging from 'Can dress and undress unaided' to 'Cannot dress or undress at all'. Each descriptor carries a points score ranging from 0 to 12. Using aids or appliances Your ability to carry out the daily living activities and the mobility activities will be assessed as if you were wearing or using any aids or appliances it would be reasonable for you to use. This applies whether or not you normally use those aids or appliances. However, if you use or need aids and appliances, this can help you to score more points - find out more here. Citizens Advice explains: 'An aid is any item which improves, provides or replaces impaired physical or mental function. It doesn't have to be specially designed as a disability aid. Examples include a stool you need to sit on when cooking, or a walking stick to help you stand.' Daily living scores Citizens Advice explains to get the daily living component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of the activities below. The maximum amount of PIP points that can be awarded for that question are shown. Daily living activity: Preparing food - 8 Taking medication - 10 Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition - 8 Washing and bathing - 8 Managing toilet needs or incontinence - 8 Dressing and undressing - 8 Communicating verbally - 12 Reading and understanding symbols and words - 8 Engaging with other people face to face - 8 Making budgeting decisions - 6 PIP payment rates A successful claim for PIP is currently worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week in additional financial support. As the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every payment period. You will be paid the following amounts per week, depending on your award level: Daily Living Component Enhanced: £110.40 Standard: £73.90 Mobility Component Enhanced: £77.05 Standard: £29.20 Article continues below Find out more about PIP on here.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, Natwest and Lonza
Chicago, IL – June 10, 2025 – announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Compagnie de Saint-Gobain - Unsponsored ADR CODYY, Natwest Group NWG and Lonza Group LZAGY. What is in play in the Global Week Ahead? Uncertainty from Washington D.C.'s tariff tactics remains rife. But investors realize: whatever U.S. President Donald Trump threatens doesn't tend to last long before he delays or backs down, meaning recent volatility has ebbed. This tendency to U-turn, dubbed the TACO trade — "Trump Always Chickens Out" — has caught on. But it's also given investors something to bank on. So, they can focus on upcoming reads on Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) and trade. (1) The TACO trade is a meaningful geopolitical concept The high-voltage volatility that shook markets in April and through May has subsided, with investors becoming accustomed to Trump's on-again-off-again approach to anything from tariffs to personal relationships — the meltdown with erstwhile DOGE chief and Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk being the latest. Wall Street's fear-gauge, the VIX index, has slipped back below the 20-line that many view as a watermark. Since Trump became the 47th president on January 20th, the index has topped 20 on 47 occasions. In the five months prior to that, it breached that level 18 times. In the last month, there have been just seven days when the VIX has popped above 20, compared with every day from April 2 "Liberation Day" to early May. If anything, the TACO trade is taking some spice out of the market. (2) Wednesday at 8:30 am EST, the May U.S. consumer inflation (CPI) data lands. Investors are hoping any rise in Wednesday's May consumer inflation report won't be as severe as feared, given Trump's erratic trade tactics. Recent data shows inflation falling close to the Federal Reserve's +2.0% target. Price pressures in manufacturing and services sectors are picking up, however. A good gauge of markets' long-term inflation view indicates only moderate concern. The inflation breakeven rate on five-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities suggests investors believe the rate will average less than 0.3 percentage points above the target for the next five years. The Fed's most recent Beige Book showed economic activity is weakening, while costs and prices are rising across the different regions — a combination policymakers do not want to see. Traders expect the Fed to make no rate change at its June 18th meeting. (3) On Monday, macro data from Mainland China focuses markets on trade issues. Washington and Beijing's trade spat has brought a familiar issue back to the surface. China has a stranglehold on global supply of so-called rare earths, critical ingredients in almost every high-tech device out there, from cars to cruise missiles. When China cuts off supply, everything withers. The auto industry is feeling it. Suzuki suspended production of the Swift subcompact, weeks after Ford (F) did the same for its Explorer SUV. The White House has blasted Beijing for reneging on tariff rollbacks agreed in Geneva last month, but China is doing the same, lambasting the U.S. over revoked student visas and cutting-edge chip curbs. Chinese trade data on Monday will illuminate what's at stake, while inflation figures that day will show if Beijing's efforts to stoke domestic demand are working. (4) On Friday, macro data from the European Union will focus on trade there. April trade data for the European Union on Friday, June 13th could offer a reasonably clean read on where things stood as Trump's on-off tariffs began to roll out. The E.U. is firmly in the U.S. president's crosshairs. Trump has said more than once the sole purpose of the E.U. is to "take advantage" of America, on the grounds that his country boasts a $200 billion trade deficit with the bloc in goods alone, making the E.U. its second-biggest goods trade partner behind China. E.U. sales of cars, steel, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods and apparel among other things are big business. Trump on May 23rd said he would impose a 50% tariff on all E.U. imports, only to back down two days later by delaying the duties by a month after a "very nice call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. (5) On Wednesday, the U.K. government presents a spending review. Bond vigilantes know this. Britain, often a prime target for bond vigilantes that attack indebted governments for financial mismanagement, has been pushed into these traders' peripheral vision by U.S. budget concerns. The Labour government's first spending review on Wednesday could bring the UK back into the spotlight. Even if finance minister Rachel Reeves manages to slash departmental spending, this will merely highlight how few cost-cutting options she has left, Bank of America says. U.K. public debt has swelled, leaving Reeves minimal headroom to avoid breaking self-imposed fiscal rules and less able to resist tax hikes. Still, businesses and borrowers still scarred by the gilt market riot after then Prime Minister Liz Truss' 2022 mini-budget may prefer higher taxes if that lowers the odds of bond vigilantes showing up. I picked three large cap European stocks from our #1 list this week. (1) Compagnie de Saint-Gobain - Unsponsored ADR: This is a $23 a share stock, with a market capitalization of $57.5B. The company operates in the Zacks Building Products-Miscellaneous industry. I see a Zacks Value score of B, a Zacks Growth score of B, and a Zacks Momentum score of F. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions for the construction and industrial markets. The company offers glazing solutions for buildings and vehicles under the Saint-Gobain, GlassSolutions, Vetrotech and SageGlass brands; plaster-based products for construction and renovation markets. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. is based in Courbevoie, France. (2) Natwest Group: This is a $14 a share stock, with a market capitalization of $57.5B. The company operates in the Zacks Foreign Bank industry. I see a Zacks Value score of F, a Zacks Growth score of D and a Zacks Momentum score of B. Natwest Group plc operates as a banking and financial services company. It provides personal and business banking, consumer loans, asset and invoice finances, commercial and residential mortgages, credit cards and financial planning services, as well as life, personal and income protection insurance. Natwest Group plc, formerly known as The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, is based in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom. (3) Lonza Group: This is a $68 a share stock, with a market capitalization of $49.2B. The company operates in the Zacks Medical Products industry. I see a Zacks Value score of D, a Zacks Growth score of C, and a Zacks Momentum score of B. Lonza Group AG operates as a supplier to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life-science industries. The company divides its activities into four divisions: Life Science Ingredients; Microbial Control; Custom Manufacturing, and Bioscience. · The company's Life Science Ingredients segment produces nutrition ingredients for applications in nutrition (food, feed and pharmaceutical application) and chemical intermediates for the agricultural industry. · The Microbial Control division focuses on five areas: hygiene, wood protection, water treatment, oil/gas applications, and industrial preservation and comprises products ranging from disinfectants to household cleaning products. · TheCustom Manufacturing division comprises products used in pharmaceuticals sector. · The Bioscience division comprises bioscience products, including cell culture and molecular biology tools for research, tests for microbial detection, and media used in the production of therapeutics. Lonza Group AG is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Lonza Group Ag (LZAGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report NatWest Group plc (NWG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Compagnie de Saint-Gobain - Unsponsored ADR (CODYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Business Standard
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Data error may have pushed up UK inflation, rate cut bets in April: ONS
The data error means the inflation rate would have been closer to the 3.3 per cent consensus forecast and 3.4 per cent predicted by the central bank Bloomberg Britain's statistics agency said it overstated the official inflation rate due to a mistake in numbers it was given on vehicle taxes, the latest in a string of errors to plague the country's economic data. The Office for National Statistics said Thursday the headline inflation rate was 0.1 per cent higher than it should have been in April's market-rattling figures, as a result of incorrect vehicle excise duty data from the government's transport department. While the ONS will not revise its inflation estimate, it will use the correct data for May. The error may have contributed to the sharp market reaction to April's inflation data. It means that the spike in prices seen in April was less severe than first thought after inflation jumped to a 15-month high of 3.5 per cent. The bigger-than-expected pick-up in price pressures in April's initial data prompted traders to cut bets on an easing in interest rates by the Bank of England. It helped to retrench expectations of fewer reductions after the central bank's hawkish tone at the May meeting. The data error means the inflation rate would have been closer to the 3.3 per cent consensus forecast and 3.4 per cent predicted by the central bank and a plurality of economists including Bloomberg Economics. Markets were little changed following Thursday's statement, fully pricing in one more rate cut for this year. Other volatile factors are thought to have pushed up April's figure with the ONS collecting price data for air fares over Easter when demand spikes. Credibility The error is the latest to undermine the credibility of the UK's official economic statistics after a series of high-profile problems that first hit its labor market statistics before spreading to other numbers. It is the second time in recent months that its price statistics have been affected by errors with the ONS suspending its producer price figures in March. The ONS has faced mounting pressure and is awaiting the outcome of a government probe into its failings. It is also without a permanent head after National Statistician Ian Diamond resigned last month on health grounds. The latest error related to an overstatement of the number of vehicles subject to vehicle excise duty rates applicable in the first year of registration. VED is a tax applied to every vehicle using public roads in the UK, adjusted according to their environmental impact. It is expected to raise over £9 billion ($12.2 billion) in the current fiscal year, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. 'This has the effect of overstating the headline Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) and Retail Prices Index (RPI) annual rates by 0.1 percentage points for the year to April 2025 only. No other periods are affected,' the ONS said in a statement. 'We are reviewing our quality assurance processes for external data sources in light of this issue.'
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Property group urges SARB to cut interest rates for economic growth and job creation
Lower interest rates will reduce the cost of financing homes, thus enabling a higher affordability at a given monthly financing payment. Image: Simphiwe Mbokazi / Independent Newspapers. A South African property group has reiterated its call for the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to step in with an interest rate cut as a vital stimulus for economic growth and job creation. National year-on-year house price inflation has maintained a modest pace of 2.8%, according to the latest figures from Lightstone's Property Index. This steady, albeit sluggish, trend is echoed in the RE/MAX National Housing Report for the first quarter of this year, which reveals a 2.1% increase in average house prices compared to the same period in 2024. With Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) sitting close by at 2.7% as of March, these figures paint a nuanced picture of South Africa's residential property landscape. As the economy stands at a pivotal juncture, a robust cut of at least 25 to 50 basis points is not just desirable but a critical imperative, according to Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff Property Group. He said the country simply can no longer bear keeping the interest rate so high for so long. As it is, he said the overly cautious approach by the bank has missed at least two opportunities to provide relief to consumers and the economy. 'The pressing challenge of unemployment simply can no longer wait. A decisive move by the SARB now would signal a commitment to revitalising economic activity. It would also provide much-needed support to businesses and consumers, and facilitate an environment conducive to investment and job creation,' Seeff said. The property group said the case for such monetary easing is strongly supported by the current inflation landscape. It said despite the recent benign increase in inflation to 2.8%, it remains comfortably below the Reserve Bank's 3-6% target range. Despite headwinds out of Washington, it said the rand has also strengthened to below R18 to the US dollar. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading At the time of the open yesterday, the USDZAR traded at R17.88, according to Reezwana Sumad, research analyst at Nedbank CIB. 'The USDZAR traded steadily weaker over the course of the session to close the session at R17.92. Since the close last night, it has traded incrementally weaker, and the USDZAR is trading at R17.98 currently this morning. "The major currency pairs have also lost ground to the USD, with the EURUSD trading at 1,1305 this morning and the GBPUSD at 1,3470. Possible trading range for the USDZAR today(Wednesday) is R17,80 to R18.15,' Sumad said. She added that the local markets have traded cautiously over the week thus far and are likely to remain so ahead of the SARB's MPC. On the international front, she said headlines from the US continue to provide the catalyst for market activity. Seeff said the prevailing remarkably low inflation level indicated that demand-side pressures are relatively subdued and the risks of igniting an inflationary spiral through a rate cut are minimal at this stage. He said the stability of the currency provides further mitigation, thus providing a valuable window for the SARB to implement a more accommodative monetary policy stance that directly benefits the domestic economy. According to data analysed by Lightstone, which evaluated property bought by a natural person and where the transaction was for a single property, young homeowners are entering the market later than they did in the past, and are opting for bonded, secure living. In 2024, people aged between 20-35 (youth) accounted for 30% of residential property purchases, down from 36% in 2019 and 41% in 2014, with tough economic conditions and changing lifestyles cited as the likely reasons behind the shift. While youth accounted for 30% (52 500) of residential property transactions in 2024, it was the second largest group behind the Settled category (36-50) at 43% (76 000). The Mature category (51-64) (38 000) accounted for 21%, while the Pension category (65 and older) accounted for 6% (10 000). While the recent rate cuts have provided some relief, Seeff said the benefits have now been eroded by keeping the interest rate at least 100 basis points above the pre-Covid rate. He said time is ticking and the country simply can no longer wait. Seeff said there is now a golden opportunity for the bank to act boldly within the available monetary policy space to address the urgent needs of economic recovery and expansion without jeopardising its price stability mandate. A rate cut would inject much-needed momentum into the economy by lowering borrowing costs for businesses and stimulating investment while adding more money into the pockets of consumers to spend in the economy, he said. The property group said while a 25bps cut would be most welcome, they urged the Bank to provide a more robust cut of at least 50bps as an immediate injection of economic confidence to kickstart the economy. 'Naturally, the property market, which currently lags the pre-Covid volumes, will also benefit from a more pronounced rate cut. Aside from enabling more first-time property buyers to get into the market, it is an important economic contributor with a significant economic multiplier benefit,' Seeff said. Independent Media Property
Mid East Info
30-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Air Cargo Demand Grows 4.4% in March - Middle East Business News and Information - mid-east.info
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for March 2025 global air cargo markets showing: Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 4.4% compared to March 2024 levels (+5.5% for international operations), a historic peak for March. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), expanded by 4.3% compared to March 2024 (+6.1% for international operations). 'March cargo volumes were strong. It is possible that this is partly a front-loading of demand as some businesses tried to beat the well-telegraphed 2 April tariff announcement by the Trump Administration. The uncertainty over how much of the 2 April proposals will be implemented may eventually weigh on trade. In the meantime, the lower fuel costs—which are also a result of the same uncertainty—are a short-term positive factor for air cargo. And, within the temporary pause on implementation we hope that political leaders will be able to shift trade tensions to reliable agreements that can restore confidence in global supply chains,' said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General. Several factors in the operating environment should be noted: March volumes typically rise after a lull in February, and this single-digit increase is in line with pre-COVID growth trends. Jet fuel prices dropped 17.3% year-on-year, marking nine straight months of year-on-year declines. The sharp rise in US tariffs and new trade rules, especially the 2 May ban on duty-free imports from China and Hong Kong, may have prompted companies and buyers to make purchases in advance to avoid significant import fees. World industrial output grew 3.2% year-on-year, and trade volumes expanded 2.9%. Many key Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) indices fell: US inflation was 2.4%, down 0.4 points from February, EU CPI was 2.5% and Japan's rate fell 0.1% to 3.6%. China remains in deflation but this eased to -0.1%. Air cargo market in detail – March 2025 World March 2025 (% year-on-year) share1 March Regional Performance: Asia-Pacific airlines saw 9.6% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in March, the strongest growth among the regions. Capacity increased by 11.3% year-on-year. North American carriers saw a 9.5% year-on-year increase in demand growth for air cargo in March. Capacity increased by 6.1% year-on-year. European carriers saw a 4.5% year-on-year increase in demand growth for air cargo in March. Capacity increased 2.0% year-on-year. Middle Eastern carriers saw a -3.2% year-on-year decrease in demand growth for air cargo in March. Capacity increased by 0.8% year-on-year. It's possible the weakness in this market is due to year-on-year comparison with the strong growth at the start of 2024 resulting from disruption to Red Sea maritime freight. Latin American carriers saw 5.8% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in March. Capacity increased 4.7% year-on-year. African airlines saw a -13.4% year-on-year decrease in demand for air cargo in March, the slowest among the regions. Capacity increased by 10.5% year-on-year. Trade Lane Growth: The Europe-North America route was the busiest trade lane in March. The largest trade lane by market share, Asia-North America, also grew strongly, possibly encouraged by front-loading shipments ahead of potential increased tariffs. Europe-Middle East and Africa-Asia were the only trade lanes to decline in March.
