Earnings and Hours of Agricultural Workers 2010

The latest release from Defra regarding the earnings and hours of agricultural workers was released recently and shows that in 2010 male full-time workers earned £8.20 per hour for a 47.5 hour week. The average weekly wage was £390. Female full-time workers earned an average £7.09 per hour for a 43 hour week. Male part-time workers earned on average £170 per week at £7.65 per hour while females earned £150 per week for an average of £6.93 per hour.

The average Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) minimum earnings/hour for male full-time workers was £7.74, female full-time workers £7.09, male part-timers £6.96 and females £6.57 per hour.

Agricultural Prices Good For Producers In October

The agricultural prices indices statistical relaease from Defra for October 2010 shows prices received by producers for agricultural products increased slightly in October 2010 and purchase prices paid by producers for agricultural products excluding subsidies decreased slightly.

The prices indices for prices received by producers for cereals increased to 218.8 in October 2010 from 197.1 in September 2010. Industrial crops prices increased to 139.7 from 138.3. Fresh vegetables increased in price from 121.3 to 130.9. and the total index number for crop products was 166.2 up from 157.6 in September. Animals and animal products indices total was 139.7 from 139.2 in September 2010. The overall total was 150.6 up from 148.0.

Prices indices for prices paid by producers for agriculural products included seeds at 117.0 from 99.6, energy and lubricants 151.2 from 147.4, fertilizers and soil improvers decreased to 198.4 from 230.4. Plant protection products price index increased to 106.0 from 105.7. Animal feedingstuffs indices totalled 166.1 up from 163.3. The plant maintenance and repair index remained unchanged at 128.1. The maintenance and repair of buildings index increased slightly to 133.1 from 133.0. Veterinary services increased slightly from 132.8 to 132.9. Machinery and other equipment went up to 126.9 from 126.6. The total index for all goods and services contributing to investment decreased to 120.1 from 120.4. All means of agricultural production decreased from 140.7 to 136.9 in Octber 2010.

Utilisation Of Milk October 2010

The key results from the release issued by Defra giving the latest milk utilisation statistics show that the intake of raw milk was 723m litres, 0.1% higher than October last year. The amount of milk used for liquid milk was 331m litres of whole milk and 97m litres of skim milk. Cheese production accounted for 136m litres of whole milk, 11m skim litres of skim milk and 1m cream litres of cream.

The range of products manufactured by the dairy industry butter which used 13m litres of cream. Other products included 31m litres of whole milk, 72m litres of skim milk and 1.6m litres of cream to make milk powders, yogurt and condensed milk.

Agricultural Labour 2010

There were 293,000 people working on commercial agricultural holdings in 2010 unchanged from 2009 compared with the 312,000 in 2008. There was a total of 170,000 farmers, partners directors and spouses, up 3% on 2009. There were 11,000 salaried managers, an increase of 1% on 2009. The other 112,000 workers (-4%) included 47,000 full-time workers (+3%), 28,000 part-time workers (-4%) and 37,000 casual workers (-12%).

A comparison can also be made between those working on "commercial" holdings and the total for "all" holdings in 2009. The total number of people working on "all" holdings in 2009 was 363,000. Farmers, partners, directors and spouses totalled 223,000 compared with 165,000, salaried managers totalled 12,000 on "all" holdings compared with 10,000 working on "commercial" holdings. Other workers totalled 128,00 on "all" holdings and 117,000 on "commercial" holdings.

Poverty And Social Exclusion In Europe

Eurostat has released details of a new publication 'Income and living conditions in Europe' issued in connection with the closing conference of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion due to take place 16-17 December 2010. It is based on data from the EU-SILC survey.

One of the key targets of the Europe 2020 strategy is to lift at least 20m people in the EU27 out of the risk of poverty or social exclusion. Progress towards this is measured using a combination of three measures: persons at risk of poverty; severely materially deprived persons and persons living in households with very low work intensity. In 2008 nearly 116m people in the EU27 were affected by at least one of the three criteria of social exclusion and nearly 7m fall under all three criteria.

In the EU27 16.5% of the population, a total of 81m people, were at risk of poverty after social transfers. The country with the highest percentage of the total population in this category was Latvia (25.6%), the lowest percentage was in the Czech Republic (9%). In the UK 18.8% of the population or 11.4m people fell into this category.

Bulgaria (41.2%) had the highest percentage of severely materially deprived persons and lowest percentage was in Luxembourg (0.7%). In the EU27 8.5% of the population or 41.5m people fell into this category. The UK figure was 4.5% or 2.7m people.

Ireland (13.6%) had the highest percentage of people living in households with very low work intensity. The lowest percentage was in Cyprus (4.1%). In the UK 4.8m people, 10.2% of the population, were in this category. The EU27 percentage was 9%. The total number of people in this category in the EU27 was 34.2m.

Business Research And Development

Total research and development expenditure in cash terms in business in 2009 totalled £15.6bn, that is a fall of 2.5% on 2008. The ONS sub-divides business R & D into civil and defence spending. Civil R & D expenditure decreased by 1.4% to £13.7bn and defence expenditure decreased by 10.2% to £1.9bn. In real terms total expenditure decreased by 4.1% to £15.6bn within which civil expenditure decreased by 3% to £13.7bn.

The product group with the highest R & D performance was pharmaceuticals at £4.4bn or 28.4% of all spending. Other significant product groups included aerospace (£1.5bn), computers (£1.5bn), motor vehicles and parts (£1.1bn) and telecommunications (£1.1bn). The region with the highest performance in terms of expenditure was the East of England (24.9%), the South East (23%) and the North West (13.1%) and the lowest in England was the North East (2%) and in the UK N. Ireland (1.9%). In terms of employment, the South East was highest employing the most people in R & D with 35,000, the East of England employed 30,000. The North East, Wales and N. Ireland employed the least at 4,000 each.

GVA Fall In All Regions 2009

Gross Value Added (GVA) GVA and GVA per head fell in all regions of the UK in 2009 due to the impact of the recession. There was still a wide variation in the extent of the effect. The East of England had the biggest fall. Scotland had the smallest decline. London had the highest share of GVA in the UK with 21.5% and the South East was next with 14.3%. The North East had the lowest share in England with 3.3%. England had 85.8% of GVA and N. Ireland 2.3% (of the 12 NUTS1 Levels).

At the level of the 37 NUTS2 sub-regions, the top five included Inner London and North East Scotland the bottom five included West Wales and the Valleys, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Lincolnshire and Tees Valley and Durham. London had the biggest share of GVA per head with £60,686 the lowest was West Wales and the Valleys with £12,860. GVA per head increased in all NUTS2 sub-regions in 2008.

Breaking the statistics down to the 133 NUTS3 local areas level the top area was Inner London West the bottom area the Isle of Anglesey. The City of Edinburgh was second highest and then Inner London East.

Foreign Direct Investment 2009

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows abroad by British companies totalled £21.2bn in 2009 down £78.1bn on 2008. It was the smallest net outward flow since 1994. The level of FDI by British companies at the end of 2009 was £1029.7bn down from a previous high of £1073.6bn at the end of 2008. Earnings from FDI by British companies were almost unchanged at £69.6bn in 2009.

Foreign companies invested £45.7bn in the UK in 2009 down £3.2bn on 2008 and the smallest inward flow since 2004. The level of FDI in the UK was £653.6bn from £660.4bn in 2008. Earnings by foreign companies increased by £23.4bn to £26.5bn in 2009.

The majority of the £21.2bn of flows invested in foreign companies was in Europe (£14.4bn) follwed by Africa (£6.6bn) and Asia (£5.5bn). Most of the earnings in 2009 were also made in Europe (£35.1bn). Europe also accounted for most of the £45.7bn invested in the UK (£27.5bn) follwed by the Americas (£20.6bn) while the Americas made the most earnings (£17.7bn).

Manufacturing Increases 5.8%

Production increased by 3.3% in October according to the index of production from the ONS. Manufacturing increased by 5.8%. The main contributors to the increase in the manufacturing index were an increase of 1.4% in machinery and equipment and 1.3% from basic metals and metal products. Capital goods increased by 8.4% and intermediate goods and energy by 1.2%. Mining and quarrying fell by 7.2%, oil and gas extraction alone by 8%. Electricity, gas and water supply increased by 0.7%. Consumer durables fell by 5.2% while non-durables increased by 4.3%.

Family Food 2009

The Family Food 2009 annual report published by Defra recently showed that food prices were on average 5% higher in 2009 than in 2008 and consumers spent 3.6% more on food and drink. Food was less of a burden on low household incomes quintiles than in 2008 with the percentage spent on food and non-alcoholic drinks falling from 16.8% to 15.8% of total expenditure. In terms of calories consumers bought 1.2% more food but bought 3.1% less fruit and vegetables. Dietary nutrition indicators suggest a slightly negative shift in 2009. Defra also tells us in its WRAP survey that in 2008 15% of all food purchased was wasted.

Milk Prices And Composition

Farm gate milk prices in October were 1.18p/litre higher than in October 2009 at 25.62p/litre. The average butterfat content was 4.02% compared wth 4.04% last year. Protein was 3.36% the same as last year.

Business Confidence In Europe In November

The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area from the European Commission went up again in November to 0.96 from 0.91 in October and is at its highest since December 2007. The increase is mainly due to better export order books and optimistic production expectations.

The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) for November also increased in both the euro area and the EU27. The main contributor to the increase was sentiment in services which increased by 2.1 to 10.2 in the euro area and 3 to 7.8 in the EU27. Most reported increases in demand and business situation over the last quarter. The ESI in the euro area was at 105.3 and in the EU27 at 105.2.

Health And Education Businesses Surviving Well

Business demographics for 2009 show that there were 236,000 business births, a rate of 10.1% and 279,000 business deaths, a rate of 11.9%. There were 2.3m active businesses in the UK during 2009, up 16,000 on 2008. The highest birth rate was in business administration and support services with 13.9%, the lowest was production with 7.3%. The highest death rate was also in business administration and support services with 14.8% and the lowest was in health with 7.2%. The median birth rate was property with 9.1% and death rate professional, scientific and technical with 11.2%. London had both the highest birth and death rates with 12.6% and 13.7% respectively. Outside of London, the highest birth rate was in the North East with 10.4% and the highest death rate was in the North West with 12.8%. The five year survival rate from 2004 was 46.8%. N.Ireland had the highest five year survival rate with 52.9% the lowest was London with 41.9%. Health had a five year survival rate of 58.9% and education 58.1%. Hotels and catering was lowest with a 35.2% five year survival rate.

Foreign Investment In UK Up To £12bn

Foreign companies invested £12bn in a total of 51 UK companies in Q3 compared with £2.7bn in 43 companies in Q2 2010. British companies invested £5bn in a total of 40 foreign companies in Q3 2010 compared with £2.4bn in 44 companies in Q2 2010. British companies invested £2.6bn in 52 UK companies in Q3 compared with £2.1bn in 91 British companies in Q2 2010.

Business Services Lead Increase In Services Index

The index of services from ONS rose by 2.5% in September 2010 compared with September 2009. There were increases in all five components. Business services and finance grew by 3.4%, distribution by 1.8%, hotels and restaurants by 4.9%, transport, storage and communication by 1.1% and government and other services by 1.8%.

GDP Up 0.8% In Q3 2010

GDP in the UK rose by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2010 compared with the previous quarter. Ouput in the production industries increased by 0.6% and manufacturing by 1%. Household expenditure increased by 0.3% gross fixed capital formation by 0.6% and current market prices by 1%. The service industries increased their putput by 0.6% and construction by 4%.

Eurostat released figures showing GDP increased by 0.4% in the euro area and 0.5% in EU27 during Q3 2010 compared with Q2. Compared with last year GDP increased by 1.9% in the euro area and 2.2% in EU27. In the OECD, GDP rose by 0.6% the sixth consecutive month of growth on the quarter and 3.1% compared with last year.

Volume Of Sales Falls But Value Increases In October

The seasonally adjusted value of retail sales in October was 2% up on October 2009 while volume fell by 0.1%. Non-store retailing saw an 11.4% increase on last year. Predominantly food stores saw a 1.9% increase and predominantly non-food stores 2.6%. The volume of non-store retailing increased by 12%, predominantly food stores volume increased by 2% and predominantly non-food by 2.5%. Prices were estimated to have risen by 2.2% over the year. The value of Internet sales was £543m or 9.6% of total retail sales (ONS).

Public Sector Finances In October

The public sector had a current budget deficit of £7.1bn and net borrowing of £10.3bn in October 2010 excluding the effects of financial interventions and at the end of October a net debt of £845.8bn or 57.1% of GDP.

Increase In Incidence Of TB In Cattle

There was an increase in the TB incidence rate for August 2010 compared with August 2009 but a high number of unclassified incidents may affect the interpretation of these provisional figures. A total of 390,812 tests were carried out on 4,613 herds resulting in the slaughter of 2,183 cattle. There were 2,107 reactors and 76 contacts, 283 of which were new herd incidents.

Production Continues To Grow

The index of production for September was 3.8% higher than September 2009. The index for October 2010 rose by 3.3% compared with 2009. The index of manufacturing was 4.8% higher in September and 5.8% higher in October. Output increased in 10 of the 13 sub-sectors in both September and October and fell in 2 in September and 3 in October with the largest increases in machinery and equipment and basic metals and metal products in both months with increases of 21% and 12.6% respectively in September and 16.8% and 13.7% respectively in October.

In the euro area industrial production increased by 5.2% in September 2010 compared with September 2009 and 5.8% in the EU27. Capital goods grew by 7.5% in euro area and 8.7% in EU27, intermediates by 6.8% and 7.5% respectively, energy by 1.8% and 0.8%, non-durables by 1.6% and 2.5% respectively and durables by 0.2% in euro area and 2.2% in EU27.

Services Trade Surplus Steady

In September UK deficit on trade in goods and services was £4.6bn compared with £4.9bn in August. Trade in goods deficit was £8.2bn and the trade in services surplus was £3.7bn unchanged from August.