German inflation

WIESBADEN: Inflation in Germany, the eurozone’s biggest economy, remained steady at 2.3 per cent in November, way above the ECB ceiling of two per cent. The German CPI declined by 0.5 per cent in November from the figure for October, but was 2.3 per cent higher than it had been in November 2004. — AFP

British economy up

LONDON: The British economy grew by 0.4 per cent during the third quarter of 2005 from the previous three-month period. The figure was unchanged from an initial estimate last month. GDP growth on a 12-month comparison stood at 1.7 per cent during the quarter, revised upwards from October’s estimate. — AFP

HK economy rises

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s economy powered ahead in the three months to September, growing by 8.2 per cent from a year earlier compared with a revised gain of 7.3 per cent in the previous quarter as exports and consumer spending picked. The latest figures prompted the government to raise its 2005 growth forecast to seven per cent from the current 4.5-5.5 per cent after the economy expanded by 7.3 per cent in the three quarters to September. — AFP

Thai-ADB discussion

BANGKOK: The president of the ADB said he had discussed the possibility of helping to fund Thailand’s about $41 billion plan for new infrastructure projects around the country. “ADB support could not only be for mega-projects in the medium-term but also for other infrastructure investments over the longer-term,” ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda said. — AFP