
Tanzania central bank cuts policy rate as it sees stable inflation
The Bank of Tanzania targets inflation of 5%, and consumer inflation (TZCPIY=ECI), opens new tab has hovered around 3% since it launched its policy rate in January 2024.
The bank had left the rate unchanged at its four previous monetary policy meetings.
Governor Emmanuel Tutuba told a press conference that the bank's projections showed inflation would remain below target, helped by the onset of the harvest season and exchange rate stability.
Tutuba said global risks had moderated on account of tariff negotiations between the U.S. and its major trading partners and the Monetary Policy Committee was confident on the outlook for the third quarter.
The East African country's government sees economic growth rising to 6% this year, from 5.5% last year, helped by the start of electricity generation at the Julius Nyerere hydropower dam.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan's administration has been pushing ahead with large-scale infrastructure projects like the dam and a railway network ahead of elections due in October.
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Ten-year Plan for Barrow aims to create 'thriving' town
A new 10-year strategy to improve a town has been launched in preparation for a huge number of people moving to the of jobs are expected to be created in Barrow, Cumbria, after the town was recognised as a strategic national asset because of its importance as a manufacturing base for Royal Navy new Plan for Barrow aims to transform the town so it can meet a rise in population while also improving housing and economic growth, the partnership behind the scheme Barrow chief executive Peter Anstiss said a number of "long-standing issues" needed to be addressed to achieve a positive future . Most of the jobs are expected to be created at submarine manufacturer BAE Systems, which was recently commissioned to build 12 attack Anstiss said the aim of the plan was to provide "improved housing and transport infrastructure, while also addressing social and health inequalities, to ensure everyone can connect to the opportunities in Barrow"."We know these are the areas which the community and future residents will want to see tackled and that's why we've prioritised them in our plan," he said. Town centre transformation The decade-long strategy has been developed by Team Barrow, a partnership between the government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE projected has been supported by £220m of government investment. One of its main focuses will be on transforming Barrow town centre into a "thriving" area, with more housing, retail and leisure facilities.A previous plan for the town centre, led by Westmorland and Furness Council, has been shelved in favour of developing "a more ambitious programme of work".Under the new scheme, housing in the town centre would be higher-density and include more rented properties to appeal to students and young also aims to build on Barrow's existing arts and culture sector, while providing support for businesses to grow. "This is a long-term programme and we're confident that we have a plan and a vision that will match the ambitions of the community and deliver lasting benefits for generations to come," Mr Anstiss said.A drop in session is being held on 10 July and 19 July at The Bridge, in Portland Walk, for members of the public to find out more about the Plan for Barrow. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
International buyers scoop up properties in Texas despite housing crash
A handful of cities in Texas are grabbing the attention of international buyers, who are coming mainly from India, China, and Mexico to find low prices amid a possible housing crash. Houston, Austin, and San Antonio all made the list of destinations where homebuyers from around the world are purchasing investment properties, second homes for their kids, or a home they will retire in. Houston was the number 5 most searched US city by non-US consumers throughout the month of April, according to a new report from International demand also grew noticeably in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. None of the metros appeared in the top rankings for international buyers last year. 'The growing appeal of Texas markets to international buyers signals a noteworthy regional shift in investment focus,' said Danielle Hale, Realtor's chief economist. International buyers see Texas as a place for a long-term investment due to its lower cost of living and lack of state income tax. Many high-profile businesses have also relocated to the state, which has led to economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development and housing demand. Texas' cultural diversity and easy international travel connections also help its global appeal. For instance, San Antonio landed in the top destinations for Mexican homebuyers due to its proximity to the US-Mexico border. 'Mexican buyers likely tend to favor US border cities because of their proximity to home, strong cultural and language connections, established family and business networks, and easier access to education, healthcare and cross-border travel —making these areas both practical and familiar for living and investment,' said Hale. Texas realtor Cesar Amezcua explained the appeal of the Lone Star State — in particular San Antonio. 'We are just two hours from Mexico's border. We're literally 156 miles from the closest border town so we have always had a big influx of people from foreign nations, especially from Mexico,' he told the Daily Mail. Amezcua says a mix of buyers are using the purchases as investments to rent out, for their college age kids to live in, of for themselves as a main home. 'Some use it while they stay in the US for a couple weeks, other people use it for their children who want to go to college,' he said. 'They often work for big corporations in the technology sector, and they're always looking for the best schools.' International buyers have also been looking at buying in Houston, which is reinventing itself as a booming tech hotspot. Apple and Nvidia are leading the push with new AI factories in the city, which is set to create jobs, develop real estate and solidify Houston's future as America's next tech city. Amezcua added that the diverse culture in many Texas cities is often what draws international buyers too. 'There's plenty of nightlife depending on what it is that you're looking for,' Amezcua added. 'There are upscale restaurants and bars and cocktail places. 'We really are spoiled here in San Antonio. There's a little bit of everything because we're such a such a diverse town. For food, there's Peruvian, Colombian, Indian, Mexican, Tex-Mex, American Continental — you name it, we have it.' Amezcua says a buyer could likely get a three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage for anywhere between $250,000 and $300,000 in the city. 'For that you're going to end up in a nice neighborhood with nice amenities like water parks and pools,' he said. Meanwhile, Texas has the most cities which have seen falling house prices over the last year. From April 2024 to April 2025, San Antonio saw prices drop 1.8 percent. Austin has seen a 1.2 percent fall, Dallas is down 0.8 percent and Fort Worth has dropped 0.2 percent. Texas became a boom state during the pandemic due to its warm weather, low tax rates and affordable housing compared to major coastal cities. For Americans, places like Dallas and Austin were once seen as affordable alternatives to high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York. But prices are now on the way down — in part due to the increasing frequency and intensity of climate disasters such as hurricanes. This has led to skyrocketing insurance premiums and rising HOA costs across many major cities.


Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
The SNP remains dangerously oblivious to the perils of a population drunk on taxpayer-funded welfare
It is a mystery why some ideas refuse to perish. They cling to existence, defying logic, even after every argument in their favour has been debated and discarded. The SNP's Minimum Income Guarantee is one such idea. In its quest for 'a wellbeing economy that is more inclusive and supportive of all its people, which can deliver economic growth that is more sustainable and, crucially, shared fairly', the SNP-led Scottish Government has been exploring a form of universal basic income for some time. In 2021, it commissioned and funded the work for a report on the programme, tasking 'an independent Expert Group to consider the design and delivery of this innovative and potentially transformational policy'. The final report was published last month. According to the recommendations, the payments – rounded to the nearest £500 per year – would be as follows: £11,500 for a single adult, £20,000 for a couple and £28,000 for a couple with one child or a single parent with two children. 'Assuming full take-up of benefits and no behavioural effects', reads the report, 'it [is] estimated that this would cost a net £8.1 billion per year'. And how is this lofty ambition to be funded? Through measures such as reducing Scottish income tax thresholds; or by increasing council tax by up to 22.5 per cent (plus inflation); or indeed by reducing the Scottish Income Tax personal allowance by £5,000 from £12,570 to £7,570. From increasing national insurance contributions to slapping a 10 per cent rise on fuel, alcohol and tobacco duty, every option involves a significant rise in people's tax bills. This has always been a leading criticism of any form of universal basic income programme: in order to scale it up to a meaningful level, the cost to the ordinary taxpayer becomes prohibitively high. Programmes such as these are designed and sold on the results of universal basic income models from around the world. Not a single one of these can be considered a clear success with trials conducted only on a narrow section of a population. As Deloitte's Chief Economist Ian Stewart pointed out in his analysis of some of those schemes, 'nobody knows how an entire population and economy would respond to the implementation of a UBI. The uncertainties of introducing it across a whole country would be enormous.' The SNP's Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, has said there are 'no plans to change tax policy'. But, rather confusingly, she has also said she 'welcomed the report', providing no indication on how else, if not through tax rises, the Scottish Government can possibly hope to act on its findings. The politicians on this side of the border are only very belatedly waking up to the perils of a population drunk on taxpayer-funded welfare support. For the Scottish Government to continue to stubbornly entertain the Minimum Income Guarantee at a devastating cost – not just to the ordinary taxpayers but the entire country – seems desperately reckless.