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In September 2008 the majority of MFI interest rates on new deposits and new loans were either higher than in the previous month or remained basically unchanged.

Raw materials are an essential part of both high tech products and every-day consumer products. European industry needs fair access to raw materials both from within and outside the EU. For certain high tech metals, the EU has a high import dependency and access to these raw materials is getting increasingly difficult.

The European Commission published its seventh annual report on serious infringements to the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The report, which built on reports by Member states, deals with infringements detected in 2006. The number of infringements detected that year was 10 362, while the average fine imposed by Member states was €1,548. The most common types of infringements were those concerning storing, processing, placing for sale and transporting of fishery products not meeting the marketing standards in force, and unauthorised fishing.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel and Swiss Federal Councilor Doris Leuthard, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, launched negotiations aiming at full liberalisation of trade in agriculture between the EU and Switzerland. Given their geographical proximity and the volume of bilateral trade, both parties are obvious partners for fully liberalised trade exchanges.

The Environment Committee voted on Wednesday on new legislation governing the production, licensing and use of pesticides. MEPs confirmed that certain toxic chemicals will be banned, except where there is a serious danger to plant health. They also argued that the EU should not be divided into three pesticide licensing zones. In addition, Member States will have to meet quantitative targets for reducing the volume of pesticides used.

The maximum working time in the EU should be 48 hours a week, and the opt-outs from this rule should removed within three years, according to the majority of MEPs in Wednesday’s second reading vote at the Employment and Social Affairs Committee.

The EU's "blue card" plan to attract highly-skilled immigrants to take jobs in EU economic sectors suffering from skill shortages, modelled on the US "green card" system, needs clearer definitions, said the EP Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday. The committee proposed clarifications, and more flexibility for Member States, whilst urging them not to "steal" brains from third countries and reaffirming the "Community preference" principle.

The Conference Board announced that the leading index for the U.K declined 1.1 percent, and the coincident index increased 0.1 percent in September.

Between 4.5 and 8 million immigrants live illegally in the European Union. Most work in sectors such as the building industry, agriculture and hotels. Civil Liberties Committee MEPs examining a proposed directive to penalise employers of illegal immigrants called on Tuesday for penal sanctions in the worst cases, stressed that immigrants must be paid legally and sought to make companies take responsibility for the practices of their sub-contractors.

In September 2008, compared with August 2008, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.2% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.1% in the EU27. In August retail trade increased by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively.