Doubling down: PFI becomes “PF2″
The Treasury’s long-awaited review of the Private Finance Initiative has been released as part of today’s Autumn Statement. It contains some pretty damning findings – and some interesting proposals for the years ahead.
Firstly, it’s ditching the much-maligned name “PFI”. Instead, from now on we will have “PF2″. Get used to it. Here are some of the other interesting points in the report. Read more
Graphic: changing UK economic forecasts
Today’s autumn statement saw the Office for Budget Responsibility slash its economic forecasts for the UK – the FT’s Claire Jones explains the significance of it here.
So here is a quick chart looking at how sharply expectations for two of the key measures – public sector net debt as percentage of GDP and GDP percentage change – have changed between the budget earlier this year and now. Read more
Turning data into money: the Open Data Institute launches
By Kate Allen and Jonathan Moules
A new institution which aims to maximise the UK’s world-leading position in the emerging field of data use for the creation of new businesses and services is set to launch today.
The Open Data Institute, which was announced by George Osborne in last year’s Autumn Statement, will be the first such organisation of its kind in the world. It will receive £10m government funding over the next five years and aims to raise an equal amount from private donors. It has already attracted $750,000 from eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar. Read more
Chinese equities are in the doldrums. Both the Shenzhen composite and the Shanghai composite indices touched their lowest level in over three years this week, marking a loss for both indices of around 10 per cent since the start of the year.
But not all Chinese stocks are falling. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, composed of mainland companies, is up by around 6 per cent. So stock selection matters. Chart of the week takes a look.
| About this blog | Blog guide |
Kate Allen works in the editorial statistics team in London. She previously specialised in housing data reporting for a national trade magazine.
Chris Cook works in the FT's comment team. After joining the FT in 2008 as a Peter Martin Fellow, he worked for two years as a leader writer and then as education correspondent.
Emily Cadman joined the FT in 2010 and is head of the interactive desk.
Martin Stabe works on the FT's interactive team, specialising in databases for interactive graphics.
Keith Fray heads the editorial statistics team, providing data for articles and graphics. His background is in economics, studying at Birkbeck College, London.
Norma Cohen is the FT's Demography Correspondent.
Valentina Romei is a statistical researcher at the FT. She joined the FT in 2008 after working both as an academic and market researcher.
