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SLOW PAY RISES FOR UK

Private sector pay at UK listed companies has risen at the slowest rate on record, a survey suggests.

Earnings rose at an annualised rate of just 0.5% in the three months to February, according to the Vocalink FTSE 350 index.

The rate is well below consumer prices index (CPI) inflation, which is currently running at 4%.
Manufacturing employees were hardest hit, seeing a sudden 0.6% shrinkage in pay packets during the period

UK MANUFACTURING ON THE UP

UK manufacturing in January grew at its fastest annual pace in more than 16 years, official figures have shown.

Manufacturing output was up 6.8% on January last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, its strongest pace since October 1994.

Month-on-month, output increased by 1% as firms recovered from a weather-related drop of 0.1% in December. The figures suggest the economy is rebounding from the 0.6% contraction seen in the last quarter.

GERMANY BETTER THAN ENGLISH SPEAKERS?

Is Germany better at teaching university courses in English than universities in English-speaking countries?

Germany has been named as the most supportive country for overseas students, in an international league table.

Among the attractions for international students is the increasing availability in Germany of courses taught entirely in English, so much so that students can complete degrees without ever having to speak German.

In the international zones of these classes, students from Germany, the United States and China participate in seminars conducted by German professors speaking in English.

Source: BBC Business News