The Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2008 was  published Thursday by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The Yearbook presents a comprehensive picture of Ireland today. It provides detailed information, tables and graphs across a wide range of topics. These include the population, labour force, education, crime, the economy, agriculture, industry,  services, prices, housing, knowledge economy and the environment.

Both the Business Climate Indicator and Economic Sentiment Indicator in the Eurozone fell sharply in October.

The Irish economy has been hit by three shocks, one well-flagged but the other two unexpected at least in their degree of severity, according to Bank of Ireland’s Quarterly Economic Outlook published today.  The economy is forecast to contract by 1.6% this year.

US real gross domestic product (GDP) — the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States — decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the third quarter of 2008, (that is, from the second quarter to the third quarter), according to advance estimates released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.  In the second quarter, real GDP increased 2.8 percent. The biggest GDP component is consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of GDP. Third-quarter spending fell 3.1 percent  - first decline since 1991, after increasing 1.2 percent in the second quarter. The drop was the sharpest since 8.6 percent in second-quarter 1980.

Wynn Resorts is moving ahead on a $2.3 billion Las Vegas resort at a time when rival casino companies are pulling back on projects.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso announced in Tokyo Thursday evening, a ¥27 trillion  - $275 billion -stimulus package and credits to support the country’s faltering economy.

UK house prices fell by the most in at least 17 years in October as banks kept lending subdued and economic growth contracted Nationwide Building Society said.

The latest Bloomberg Eurozone Retail Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), based on a mid-month survey of economic conditions in the Eurozone retail sector, fell from 46.2 in September to 44.3 in October, signaling a drop in region sales for the fifth consecutive month and one of the steepest declines recorded since the survey began five years ago.

Markets news on stocks, currencies and commodities.

Principal news stories from the Irish Independent, Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Financial Times and New York Times.