Economy

• Sunday, December 29th 2013 - 08:35 UTC

  December inflation doubles in Brazil but at an annualized 5.51% remain on target

  

  Brazil's general price index, known as the IGP-M, more than doubled in December, posting a rise of 0.60% compared with a 0.29% increase in November, the Getulio Vargas Foundation said Friday.

• Sunday, December 29th 2013 - 08:30 UTC

  Brazil ups taxes on debit cards and travelers checks to contain outgoing tourism

  

  The Brazilian government said on Friday it will raise a tax on operations with debit cards and travelers checks made abroad, in a move that will raise the country's tax intake by 552 million Reais (234.65m dollars) per year.

• Friday, December 27th 2013 - 05:32 UTC

  Uruguay's new Economy minister pledges continuity of current market friendly policies

  

  Uruguay will continue to consolidate its market friendly policies, pledged incoming Economy minister Mario Bergara, 48. on taking office on Thursday surrounded by President Jose Mujica and Vice president Danilo Astori. He replaced Fernando Lorenzo who was forced to resign following a major scandal involving the failure and shut down of the country's flag air carrier Pluna.

• Friday, December 27th 2013 - 05:01 UTC

  UK Met Office will offer daily forecasts about the weather in space: solar storms the target

  

  The United Kingdom Met Office is to begin offering daily forecasts about the weather in space. The 24 hour service will aim to help businesses and government departments by providing early warnings of solar storms that can disrupt satellites, radio communications and power grids. The first forecast is expected to be available next spring.

• Friday, December 27th 2013 - 04:52 UTC

  Inflation in Argentine provinces expected to reach over 30% at the end of 2013

  

  Consumer prices in the Argentine province of San Luis climbed 2.9% in November over October, 27.8% over December 2012 and 29.3% in the last twelve months, according to the provincial stats office. San Luis is ruled by dissidents from the ruling Peronist coalition headed by President Cristina Fernandez.

• Friday, December 27th 2013 - 00:59 UTC

  China pumps 5bn dollars to help banking system with rising interest rates

  

  China's central bank has pumped 5bn dollars into the banking system to ease concerns over a credit squeeze that has caused rising interest rates. The People's Bank of China did not explain its actions, but over the last few days there has been growing concern over the availability of credit.

• Friday, December 27th 2013 - 00:05 UTC

  Over 10m Argentines live in poverty conditions, says Catholic University

  

  Over a quarter of the Argentine population live in poverty conditions, with no formal job, poor quality education, dreadful housing and insufficient healthcare, according to the latest paper from the Buenos Aires Catholic University Social Debt Observatory.

• Thursday, December 26th 2013 - 23:54 UTC

  Argentina’s socioeconomic statistics: still lying after all these years, says The Economist

  

  For years the IMF turned a blind eye as Argentina doctored its inflation index and plumped up its numbers for economic growth. Then last February the fund steeled itself and censured the country, warning it to improve its statistics by September or face potential suspension or expulsion. This threat was unprecedented in the fund’s history.

• Thursday, December 26th 2013 - 08:31 UTC

  Falklands government contracts local company for provision of IT services

  

  The Falkland Islands Government and local company Synergy Information Systems Ltd have agreed a contract for the provision of IT services to Government. The contract, signed last week following formal approval by Executive Council, involves the management of the Government’s IT network infrastructure and user support and results in the transfer of more than 80% of Government IT work to the local private sector.

• Thursday, December 26th 2013 - 07:43 UTC

  Trickle-down economics in one of South America’s poorest countries, Paraguay

  

  The Economist has dedicated an article to the recently inaugurated Paraguayan president Horacio Cartes, and his attempts to improve the living conditions of the majority of a population which is poor in a country rich in agriculture and energy.