| DATA SNAP: UK House Prices Fell For Fourth Month In January
LONDON (Dow Jones)--U.K. house prices fell for the fourth straight month in January as buyers delay making purchases until the outlook for the economy and interest rates become more clear, a survey by Hometrack showed Monday. The company, which specializes in providing research and data on the residential property market, said house prices fell 0.3% from December. That rate of decline was unchanged from the previous month. During the 12 months to January, house prices rose by 2.3%. That marked a slowdown from the 3.0% annual rate of growth in 2007, and was the smallest 12-month rise since June 2006. With mortgage providers finding it difficult to raise funds in international capital markets to lend to home buyers, the housing market has shown signs of softening in recent months. The government and the Bank of England have warned that the economy will slow significantly this year, a development that may lead to a rise in joblessness and another reason for buyers to be cautious.
Experts: Rebates not free windfall
The government wants the public to spend and jump start the economy now — not wait until 2009 to have the money in hand, the experts said. Because the agreement reached between the U.S. House of Representatives and the Bush administration has not been finalized, local certified public accountants hesitate to comment on the details. That particularly applies to how the rebates would affect tax refunds due in 2009. ‘‘If it works like it did last time, it's just an advance payment,'' Henry Sforza, a Warren certified public accountant, said of the rebate. ‘‘It's (reduction of the 2009 refund) dollar for dollar, unless they make some sort of exception.'' In 2001, individuals got rebates of up to $300, and couples up to $600. They were made available against the following year's tax returns. But views on the latest rebate program are not unanimous.
Apparel & Accessories
Pick out a pair of jeans and get suggestions of a top and scarf to "complete the look," just as if an in-store brand associate were at your elbow. At AbercrombieKids.com, a companion site for the younger set, visitors can watch a movie on ski racing, starring an athlete who could be, and perhaps is, one of Abercrombie`s preternaturally beautiful models. Kids can also download wallpapers and screensavers to make their computers look like a G-rated A&F catalog. And, of course, they can buy clothes, though building brand loyalty is the primary goal on the kids site. As with Abercrombie.com, the home page is a large black-and-white glamour shot of one of the catalog models, though fully clothed (unlike the bare-chested hunks at the older kids` site). At both sites, the overall black-and-white theme stands out, and makes colors pop on the merchandise.
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