Private and social housing projects lowest since 1945
When the Government pledged to alleviate the nation's housing shortage by setting a target of 2 million new homes by 2016, people might have viewed a new career as an On-Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEA) as a fertile pasture less prone to the oversupply issues bedeviling Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) because of the higher entry requirements.
Today's newsblast will not be welcome, therefore.
Private-sector new-builds and social housing projects would total just 147,000 dwellings this year – a 27 per cent decline on 2007 and the lowest figure since 1945, the Construction Products Association (CPA) said.
Building of new homes at its slowest since 1945 - Business News, Business - The Independent
That is one of the more optimistic figures predicted over the past week; one number touted last week was as low as 70,000 new homes this year.
Govt. is seeking to ramp up to 240,000 new homes a year by 2016.
Inflation hits 3.3%
Today's inflation figure of 3.3% has forced the Bank of England's Governor, Mervyn King, to warn that inflation could top 4% before the year is out.
It's easy to say from the armchair but I felt last month's decision to keep interest rates on hold was a mistake. I don't expect it will be repeated this month so brace yourself.
7% house price decline predicts CML
All this comes on top of yesterday's latest prediction from The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) which now expects house prices to fall by 7 per cent this year.
And despite a pledge by Saudi Arabia to boost oil production next month by 200,000 barrels/day, the price of it edged above another new record yesterday to a touch under $140/barrel.
Run away, if you can.
