Despite the credit crunch and a faltering economy, entrepreneurs are still finding the finance to buy businesses and are taking advantage of competitive prices.
A new survey released by ethical beauty retailer, The Body Shop, indicates that in spite of the tough economic climate, ethics are as important, if not more important, than price with today's increasingly eco-conscious consumers.
The latest TMF EU VAT Tracker highlights the impact of the credit crunch and increasing inflationary worries on plans for VAT rate increases. In a bid to stay competitive for global business investment, EU states have been looking in recent years to shift the burden of tax from business-related taxes (e.g. corporate and labour taxes) to consumption taxes, such as VAT. The most dramatic example of this was Germany's 2007 3% VAT increase to 19%.
OECD composite leading indicators (CLIs) for July 2008 indicate a continued weakening outlook for all the major seven economies. The latest data for major non-OECD member economies tentatively point to expansion in China, Brazil and Russia and a downturn in India.
Between 2000 and 2007, EU27 trade in goods with Ukraine more than tripled in value: exports rose from 5.5 billion euro to 22.4 bn, while imports increased from 4.8 bn to 12.4 bn.
Pursuing both progressive and reciprocal opening of access to the service market in trade negotiations is stressed by MEPs in a report adopted by the House. This would give access to entrepreneurs of developing countries to a wider range of service. The own-initiative report to be endorsed by the House reiterates that liberalisation of services is important for both developed and developing countries.
MEPs adopted a first-reading legislative report on proposals to simplify and modernise the rules for the computerised reservation systems used by high-street and online travel agents to book airline tickets for their customers. MEPs believe this will mean more competition and therefore lower distribution costs, but they also want measures to ensure consumers get a fair deal - and can be presented with environment-friendlier travel options.
Women presidents are leading growing businesses in 2008. Results from the surveyed membership indicate 70% of women presidents and CEOs of multi-million dollar companies predict their companies will maintain or grow revenues this year, according to the annual economic survey by the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), the premier peer advisory organization for women entrepreneurs.
Investor-owned power and gas companies spent more than $80 billion on capital investments in 2007, and at least $200 billion from 2005 through 2007, according to a report in the September issue of Public Utilities Fortnightly magazine.
