Pressure on pay in private sector increases
Pressure for higher private sector wage rises is growing, especially in manufacturing, as workers struggle to defend themselves against the most sustained fall in living standards since the 1920s. Incomes Data Services, the pay analyst, said an “early look” at 25 pay awards across the economy last month showed the median edging up to 2.6 per cent, compared with 2.2 per cent in the final quarter of last year. Financial Times
Contracting in Netherlands: Country experiences strong manufacturing growth
People contracting in Netherlands could be interested to know that the country is helping lead manufacturing growth in the eurozone. According to the JPMorgan Global Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI), the Netherlands, along with Germany and Austria, experienced strong levels of manufacturing growth during January. The JPMorgan Global Manufacturing PMI rose to a nine-month high last month, growing from 55.6 points in December to 57.2. Anything above a reading of 50 signals expansion. Liberty Bishop
Kogan asks customers to front up for manufacturing costs to save cash with LivePrice payment model
WOULD you wait a month or two for a new television if it meant saving $200? Online electronics retailer Kogan Technologies is hoping the answer is yes. Kogan today launched a new payment method for Australians called LivePrice which gives customers a sizeable discount for paying for goods in advance. News.com.au
US manufacturing sector growing at a seven year high amid inflation
US manufacturing activity surged at a seven year high as inflation grew more than expected. US payrolls report accounted for an increase in hiring for four months in a row although there still remains unemployment concerns. As US corporations announced their topline and bottomline figures, the ISM manufacturing index escalated to 60.8 showing good growth prospects. "All in all, the ISM report showed the trend in manufacturing output growth (and hiring) rising solidly at the beginning of 2011," economists at UBS Investment Research said in a note to clients, adding the economy was gaining speed. One India Money
Arizona Solar Company to Beef Up Manufacturing
In Arizona, the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels, Suntech Power, announced that it will increase its output of solar modules by adding a second production shift at its newest facility in Goodyear. Suntech’s latest facility is one of the most technologically advanced in the world, and will now employ 78 employees to run operations for 16 hours per day; since its opening in October, the plant has operated for eight hours per day with only 40 workers, but the company hired additional workers to help make the transition as fluid as possible. Getsolar.com