No 257: Many Important UK Economy Figures This Week

 A BUMPER week for UK economic data. Here is a summary, but make sure you also read the full article given for each one:

UK GDP Growth was -0.5% in December. But over the quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) it was 0%, so the UK avoided (just!) being in a recession. uk q4 gdp

Wages increased by a near-record 6.7% in Q4 2022, but this is still far below inflation. Unemployment remained extremely low - 3.7% for Q4 2022. uk wages / unemployment

Inflation for January was 10.1%, lower than the 10.5% of December, but still near record high. A particular worry is inflation in food and drink prices, which was 16.7%. uk jan inflation figures

No 188: Pound Dollar Exchange Rate 1976-2010

FROM timetric via tutor2u, comes the first of a series of useful interactive graphs I will be posting in the next few weeks.

In recent homework, the answers to the graph question from Data Response have, to be honest, not been very good, so one way to use this graph is to practice for the exam by picking out key features.

Another use is to use your knowledge of UK economic history and to see what was happening to the £ / $ exchange rate during those periods.

No 170: GDP Forecasts for 2011

FROM "The Economist".....

No 165: World Clock

HERE is a screenshot of the "World Clock":

As you can see (but not too clearly, trying a different screenshot app....) the clock shows you information about different stats about the whole world: births, deaths, prison growth, car production.

However, to get the real fun out of it, you need to actually watch the clock in live time: click here to get to it.

Right, I'm going to watch the clock for the next 60 seconds and see what happens in the world....

Ok, I'm back. In the world in the last 60 seconds there was:

• a 147 person growth in world population due to
• 256 births minus
• 109 deaths of which
• 22 were because of cardiovascular problems, 2 from traffic accidents, 1 from poisonings and also
•  1 illegal immigrant entered the USA
• 2 couples got divorced in the USA while
• 88 abortions took place across the world
• 25 hectares of forest were lost
• 57,851 barrels of oil were produced and also
•  69 cars, 208 bicycles and 161 computers.

I'll let you into a secret: the ends of term  are always stressful times for teachers - topics to finish in class, tests to set and mark, reports to write - and in such times is good to be reminded of the incredible restless relentless busy-ness of the crazy planet we live upon, and how our own problems and stress are just an insiginificant molecule in all of it.

Wow, got all of a bit philosophical there, apologies!