Up to 42 percent of US citizens believe now is a good time to find a quality job, the highest level in a presidential election year since 2004, according to a monthly Gallup poll released on Tuesday. The rate was higher than the levels in recent election years, which were 22 percent in 2012, 14 percent in 2008 and 29 percent in 2004. Their optimism about quality jobs fell to the lowest level after the global economic recession in 2008, to 8 percent in November 2009

UK inflation reaches two-year high in Sept

The UK inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index rose to a nearly two-year high of 1.0 percent in September, up from 0.6 percent in August, the Office for National Statistics revealed on Tuesday. According to the ONS, rising prices for clothing, hotel rooms and petrol led to the highest rate of inflation since November 2014, when it was also 1.0 percent. Clothing saw its biggest price rise since 2010 and fuel, which was falling a year ago, was also more expensive. These upward pressures were partially offset by a fall in airfares and food prices.

Lithuania's economy to slow down by 2.7%

Lithuania's gross domestic product will grow by 2.7 percent next year, half a percentage point less than projected six months ago, the country's Finance Minister Rasa Budbergyte said on Tuesday. The growth forecast has been revised downward due to Brexit and geopolitical challenges, Budbergyte said. "We must be ready to meet these challenges. Therefore, we need to adopt a realistic and prudent budget which meets the rules of fiscal discipline," she was quoted as saying by local media.

Bank fees targeted in New Zealand review

New Zealand's government on Wednesday signaled its intention to tackle the country's notoriously high credit card fees. Shoppers in New Zealand often leave a shop empty-handed when they find small retailers refuse to accept credit cards because of the fees charged. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith on Wednesday released an issues paper on retail payment systems for public consultation. Concerns were expressed about the cost of credit card payment fees in New Zealand, particularly in comparison to Australia, Goldsmith said in a statement.

Industrial parts exports plummet

South Korean exports of industrial parts and materials declined for the first three quarters of this year amid the global economic slump, a government report revealed. Shipments of industrial components and materials reached $185.7 billion during the January-September period, down 6.9 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The exports fall came amid weak global demand, caused by the lackluster global recovery, but component exports still accounted for 51.1 percent of South Korea's total exports last month.

(China Daily USA 10/20/2016 page14)