Payment Cards As At October 2008
Statistics released by Banque Du Liban (BDL) reveal a healthy 11.01% annual expansion in the number of payment cards in Lebanon (Debit and Credit cards) reaching 1,499,907 cards during the first ten months of 2008.
Moody’s Outlook On Lebanon
Moody’s Investors’ Service, the international rating agency, affirmed its sovereign “government bond” rating of “B3“for the Republic of Lebanon, while changing the outlook to “positive” from “stable” previously.
Public Debt Through October 2008
Statistics released by the Lebanese Ministry of Finance show an annual 12.14% expansion in gross public debt to $46.19 billion as at end of October 2008, up from $41.18 billion in October 2007.
Saudi Oil Revenues Expected to Plummet In 2009
Reduced oil production (resulting from successive OPEC cuts) coupled with the dramatic nose-dive in oil prices may drag Saudi oil revenues by 41% to $172 billion in 2009.
CPI In November 2008
The U.S. Labor Department reported a substantial seasonally adjusted 1.7% monthly contraction, the biggest drop since 1947, in the U.S. Consumer Price Index “CPI” in November 2008 on the back of diminishing gasoline prices.
