Economy

• Sunday, January 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Cooling inflation, China's central bank main task for 2008

  

  China's central bank said it will take more steps this year to cool inflation and prevent the world's fastest growing major economy from overheating. A “tighter monetary policy” will “help prevent the economy from overheating and prevent price increases from spreading”, the central bank said in a statement last week after concluding a two-day annual work meeting in Beijing.

• Sunday, January 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Euro-zone inflation challenges ECB monetary policy

  

  Record oil prices and continuing high food costs kept Euro zone inflation at 3.1% in December, reported the European Central Bank (ECB).

• Sunday, January 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile suffers highest inflation in twelve years, 7.8%

  Consumer prices in Chile rose 0.5% in December and the annual rate reached 7.8% the highest level since June 1996 according to the latest report from the government-run National Statistics Institute, INE.

• Saturday, January 5th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay's IPC in 2007 reached 8.5%, highest since 2003

  Uruguay's consumer prices index increased 0.3% in December totaling 8.5% in 2007, two full points above the Central Bank's target and the highest since the 10.2% of 2003, according to the country's Statistics Institute monthly report

• Saturday, January 5th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Customs Code and productive cohesion in Mercosur's agenda

  

  Wrapping up the Customs Code, productive integration and advancing in trade talks with India and the South Africa Customs Union are the main objectives on which Mercosur will be fully committed until next July, announced Argentina which holds the group's chair for the next six months.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine expatriates remittances soared eight times in 5 years

  

  Remittances from Argentine expatriates soared eight times between 2001 and 2006 according to the latest report from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, CEPAL.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  China's forecasts for 2008: 10.8% growth and inflation 4.5%

  China's economy is forecasted to expand two digits for the sixth consecutive year in a context of inflation, which was record in a decade in 2007, reported this week the Shanghai Securities News, quoting a government think-tank.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil's Lula da Silva promises jobs and infrastructure in 2008

  

  Brazil will invest heavily in infrastructure this year which will help create jobs and boost the economy said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during his weekly broadcast.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Santiago has dearest basic services of S. American capitals

  

  Santiago de Chile residents pay more for their light and water than the citizens of any other capital in South America, according to a recent survey conducted by the EL Mercurio newspaper.

• Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela launches new currency to stem inflation

  

  Venezuela launched a new currency with the New Year, lopping off three zeros from denominations in a bid to simplify finances and boost confidence in a money that has been losing value due to high inflation.