Britain’s manufacturing recession eased in May for third month running, survey finds

September 9th, 2009 Fed survey: most of US in economic healing modeWASHINGTON — A new government survey finds the vast majority of the country reporting economic activity is stabilizing or improving, as the worst recession since the 1930s appears to be over. The Federal Reserve's snapshot of economic conditions backs predictions by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and most other analysts that the economy has started to grow again in the current quarter.

September 9th, 2009 Worst recession since 1930s appears to be overWASHINGTON — Economic activity is stabilizing or improving in the vast majority of the country, according to a government survey released Wednesday. The findings indicate that the worst recession since the 1930s may be over.

August 21st, 2009 BERLIN - The economic gloom which descended on Europe over the last 12 months is slowly continuing to lift, with key surveys released Friday showing industry confidence gaining ground this month. The economics research group Markit said its composite purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the 16-member eurozone showed the currency bloc's economy edging its way towards expansion this month after posting its seventh consecutive rise.

August 5th, 2009 Britain's services sector growing fastLONDON — Britain's services sector grew at its fastest rate in nearly a year and a half during July, a closely watched survey showed Wednesday. The Chartered Institute for Purchasing and Supply said its monthly purchasing managers index for the services sector rose to 53.2 in July from 51.6 in June.

August 3rd, 2009 Manufacturing data, banks boost world marketsLONDON — World stock markets mostly rose Monday after upbeat manufacturing data and positive earnings news from big British banks helped stoke a renewed bout of buying at the start of a new month. In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 83.82 points, or 1.8 percent, at 4,692.18 while Germany's DAX jumped 105.59 points, or 2 percent, to 5,437.73.

August 3rd, 2009 Data indicate British manufacturing grew in JulyLONDON — Figures showing the first uptick in Britain's manufacturing sector in over a year sent the pound surging to a near ten-month high against the dollar Monday. The closely-watched purchasing managers' index from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply jumped to 50.8 in July from 47.4 in June, largely as a result of a sharp pick-up in new orders.

July 20th, 2009 Company forecasters less pessimisticWASHINGTON — With the U.S. economy expected to emerge this year from the longest recession since World War II, business forecasters are feeling a bit less gloomy about the future.

July 3rd, 2009 Britain's services sector grows for second monthLONDON — Activity in Britain's services sector rose for the second month running in June despite a modest slowdown in activity, a closely-watched survey showed Friday. In its monthly asessment of the sector, the Chartered Institute for Purchasing and Supply said its purchasing managers' index — a broad gauge of business activity — for the sector in June dipped slightly to 51.6 from May's 51.7.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Economic Survey tabled in parliament Thursday has sought the integration of diamond processing sector with jewellery manufacturing so as to boost exports. "Forward integration of the diamond processing sector to jewellery manufacturing, where the value addition achieved is the highest, will help in boosting the export performance once the existing economic downturn passes by, the survey said.

June 22nd, 2009 German businesses expect improvement, survey showsBERLIN — Business confidence in Germany, Europe's largest economy, dropped to a new all-time low in June but expectations for the future continued to improve, a closely watched survey showed Monday. The Munich-based Ifo institute's business climate index — an average of its current situation and future expectations numbers — improved overall to 85.9 points from 84.3 the month before, the third consecutive increase since March when the indicator hit a 26-year low of 82.2 points.

June 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US companies shed only 345,000 jobs in May, the smallest drop in eight months and a sign that the US recession may be easing, but the unemployment rate still jumped half a percentage point to 9.4 percent, the Labour Department reported Friday. The US has now lost six million jobs since a deep recession began in December 2007, but the monthly data was far better than economists had predicted.

May 14th, 2009 LONDON - A new survey has revealed that girls from Yorkshire are the bustiest babes in Britain, with 35 per cent needing DD cups or larger. The study, conducted by MBT, who makes footwear for those with posture problems, revealed that girls from Newcastle were next, with the lasses from Bristol not lagging far behind, reports the Sun.

May 1st, 2009 Report shows slower manufacturing contractionPITTSBURGH — U.S. manufacturing activity contracted at a slower-than expected pace in April, according to figures from a private trade group that suggest the economic decline may be moderating.

April 24th, 2009 Britain's music moguls affected by recessionLONDON — The music industry isn't recession proof, with many industry stars seeing their fortunes fade during the past year, according to a study by a British newspaper. Singers such as Elton John, Robbie Williams and Tom Jones have lost around a quarter of their personal wealth over the past 12 months, according to The Sunday Times.

March 21st, 2009 LONDON - Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is the hottest mother in showbiz, according to a new online poll. The mother-of-six topped a survey list of 'yummy mummys' carried out by msn.co.uk to find Hollywood's sexiest parent and landed 29 percent of the votes registered, reports contactmusic.com.