Demand for new workers from employers fell at a record pace in September, according to KPMG, the accountant. The job vacancy index fell to 43.3 from 45.1 in August, the biggest drop since the survey began 11 years ago. Any figure below 50 indecates that demand is falling.

LENDING CONDITIONS

Consumers and businesses face a further squeeze on the availability of loans in the coming three months, the Bank of Englands quarterly credit conditions survey suggested. Banking groups said they had tightened lending standards for borrowing of all kinds and intended to curb loan availablity still more.

MANUFACTURING OUTPUT

fell for the sixth month in a row in August, official figures show. The drop of 0.4% pushed the annual decline to 1.9%. The wider measure of industrial production, which counts for for just under a fifth of Britains ecconomy, fell by 0.6%, sharper than expected in August.

MORTGAGE APPROVALS

plunged in May, fuelling alarm over prospects for house prices as the number of new home loans agreed fell to record lows. Approvals for house purchases dropped to 42,000 down 28% from April and 64% on a year ealier, the Bank of England said.

HIGH STREET SALES VOLUMES

fell by 0.2 per cent in April, matching the drop registered in March, according to offical figures and marking the first back to back monthly declines in sales volumes for more than two years.

INTERNATIONAL COMPANY REPORTS

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