G20 GDP growth picks up to 0.9% in the third quarter of 2014

Excess capacity in steel as growth in investment projects outpaces demand will pose risks for the sector for the foreseeable future, according to industry and government officials at the OECD’s Steel Committee meeting in Cape Town on 12 December 2014. The risk of trade conflicts in the industry also appears to have increased of late, they said, and Committee members discussed options for closer co-operation to try and prevent disputes.

The United Kingdom has done well to increase its development spending to 0.72% of gross national income despite a challenging budget climate and should strive to maintain that level of aid for the years ahead, according to a new OECD Review.

OECD Unit Labour Costs edge up to 0.2% in the third quarter of 2014

The OECD Working Group on Bribery doubts Argentina’s commitment to fight foreign bribery. Argentina still has no law to punish companies for foreign bribery or prosecute its citizens who commit this crime abroad. Widespread delays continue to plague complex economic crime investigations.

Norway has taken some good initiatives to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, but needs to establish overarching policies and strategies, and address significant weaknesses in a number of key areas, according to a new report by the Financial Action Task Force.

Secretary-General Angel Gurría has sent a letter to President François Hollande expressing his condolences and those of all OECD staff following the attack that took place at the headquarters of French magazine Charlie Hebdo, in Paris.

Mexico now has the chance to dramatically boost growth rates and resume convergence of its living standards towards those of advanced economies, reduce pervasive labour market informality and drive down high rates of poverty and income inequality.

Secretary-General Gurría brings forward his return to France to join President Hollande and other leaders in the Unity March against terrorism on Sunday 11 January at 3pm

Private consumption main driver of OECD GDP growth in the third quarter of 2014