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“The trend has been to keep basic pay increases down and to give more money to employees in other ways, such as bonuses and profit-related pay.”The EEF’s report excludes these additions, although they lift take-home pay.Alan Armitage, EEF’s head of economics, said the strong pound’s effect on exports did not explain engineering pay restraint since it could take 18 months for orders to reach completion.Out of 407 pay settlements analysed by the EEF, 303 were 3 per cent or over.In a survey of members of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, salaries of under 35s were up 5.5 per cent over the past year. Ken Smith, manager for professional development, said higher grades had suffered from delayering.Research by the Institute of Civil Engineers is understood to have found that civil engineering, traditionally in the bottom half of the engineering earnings table, is on the verge of a recruitment drive following a growth in orders.Mark Stracey, group manager of Thomas Telford, the endorsed recruitment agency of the chemical and civil engineering industries, said outsourcing was responsible for wage inflation in consulting and contracting engineering: “Pressure from City institutions has forced larger petrochemical companies to reduce strata of management and increase per-capita profitability by contracting out.”Bechtel, the general engineering group, recently gave all employees a bonus of up to 10 per cent to reflect exceptional company performance last year, and a shortage of calibre graduate engineers has forced British Aerospace to consider setting up its own university.However, Peter Breen, partner in the executive search company Heidrick & Struggles, said EEF’s figures were a good snapshot of an industry saturated with qualified engineers and starved of business-minded management talent.”There’s an oversupply of trained blue-collar engineers, but business- alert engineers are a rare breed. Finding an engineer with an MBA in Europe is like finding a hen with teeth. Most engineers are doing what they do because they consider it an intrinsically interesting job.”.

The pace of economic growth is significantly faster than official figures suggest, according to new City research due to be published this week. Correcting for the fact that the first estimates of national income during an economic upswing are subsequently revised up suggests the actual growth rate is “truly worrying”. The research, by economist Michael Dicks at investment bank Lehman Brothers, points out that figures published by government statisticians at the time showed the economy growing at around its trend rate during the late 1980s boom.
In fact, the early-1986 estimates pointed to a slowdown, in what the then chancellor Nigel Lawson has since described as a “false dusk”.This pattern of underestimating growth continued throughout the boom, Mr Dicks said. “Interestingly, at the beginning of this year, the 1990s recovery looks to have reached the foothills of a real boom, if the 1980s experience is anything to go by.”He said a late-1990s boom was unlikely to be on the same scale as the last decade’s, mainly because of the strong pound and the more efficient jobs market.

These mean that inflationary pressures from both import prices and pay rises are likely to stay more subdued.However, the probability that the economy is already growing at a rate well above its long-term potential means there is a real risk of inflation pressures.Official statisticians have investigated the reasons for their tendency to underestimate growth in the late 1980s and reckon the bias has been eliminated.But Mr Dicks argues that if initial estimates of Gross Domestic Product are compared with those made six months and three years later, there is strong evidence that this key measure of economic growth is very often revised up. The size of the revisions is greater when the economy is expanding rapidly.The initial Office for National Statistics figure for growth in 1994 was 3.4 per cent, which it has revised up to 4.2 per cent. A final figure of 4.6 per cent is likely, according to the Lehman Brothers report, while 1995’s initial 2 per cent figure could turn out as high as 3 per cent, and 1996’s official 2.6 per cent within-year growth will turn out to be 3.2 per cent or more.. Independent gas suppliers are to step up their fight against controversial selective price cuts implemented by British Gas after an unexpectedly large number of households deserted the company in the latest trial of domestic competition in the South-east of England. The furore began last month when British Gas announced it would cut bills for customers in the first competitive trial area, in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, by between 6 and 12 per cent.

It was the first time for decades that homes in one region have enjoyed bills lower than its national tariff from British Gas.
Centrica, the recently demerged British Gas supply business, which continues to use the familiar brand name, made the move in the South-west after losing a fifth of its customer base to rivals. Since the trial began last May more than 100,000 homes have switched supplier out of 500,000 taking part.However, the latest internal industry figures make even more worrying reading for Centrica executives. They show customers have deserted British Gas far more swiftly in the most recent trial region involving just over 900,000 homes in Kent and Sussex. Since the trial began a month ago, 182,000 customers have either switched, or are thought to be in the process of switching, slashing British Gas’s market share by 20 per cent. These statistics are well above figures released by Ofgas, the industry watchdog, which do not include homes which have signed contracts to move but have not yet done so.Independent suppliers now believe British Gas is planning an early roll- out of its selective price reductions, known as “Value Plus”, in Kent and Sussex if Ofgas approves the new tariff package on offer in the South- west.

English Premier League champions Manchester United have signed young Mexico striker Javier Hernandez from Chivas de Guadalajara.

Brittany Murphy’s cause of death has been determined.

Google Buzz entry in the market place has Yahoo, Twitter and Facebook responding almost immediately as they vie for the $120 billion digital adspend market

He remains a formidable racer and Ligier clearly recognise the fact. He rejoined the French team resigned to sharing the grands prix with Japan’s Aguri Suzuki but the schedules have now been revised to give Brundle a total of 11 races compared with Suzuki’s six. Not for the first time, Schumacher has almost single-handedly lifted the team to the top of the constructors’ table.Brundle’s was probably the best performance by a British driver. He is hoping this podium place and an anticipated improvement in fitness after having his tonsils removed will prove the watershed in his season.A British driver in need of a finish as well as confidence is Johnny Herbert, who again tangled his Benetton with another car early on. Magny-Cours is Ligier’s home track, but even so…Coulthard, extremely young to be driving for the top team at 24, is conscious that he has to raise his game if he is to keep his seat.

He was very nearly caught on the line by his fellow Briton, Martin Brundle, in a Ligier-Mugen. The championship is going his way and he has every prospect of enjoying the comfortable cruise denied him last time.Williams should be stronger at Silverstone than at Magny-Cours but if Hill cannot outpace Schumacher there his championship aspirations will be crushed.It will also be an important race for the other Williams driver, David Coulthard, a relieved third on Sunday but also a distant third. Then again, after hearing Schumacher at the post-race press conference defending refuelling stops, Hill began his reply: “I disagree.”Schumacher has indicated he intends to discuss with Hill Sunday’s incident when the Benetton almost ran into the back of the Williams as they negotiated a back-marker. His opportunity may come during testing at Silverstone, later this week.Of the two drivers, Schumacher should be the more anxious to ease the tension He is the one with everything to lose.

During Saturday’s press conference they managed to argue over the direction of the wind, Hill patently savouring what he considered a points victory. The cracks are now evident again, revealed in verbal exchanges before the race. Hill won in Japan and was beaten for the title only after that controversial collision in Australia.Schumacher apologised for his attack, withdrew the insults and shook hands on an apparent armistice, but the body language always suggested it to be a fragile truce. The Benetton-Renault driver had extended his lead to 11 points and observers reckoned it was the beginning of the end of the season.Now, however, Hill may respond to Schumacher’s remarks just as he did at the end of last year when the German demeaned him as second rate.

If Hill, the winner there last year, required any further motivation to repeat the success and regenerate the championship, he has it now.Hill contained his dejection at Magny-Cours and refrained from making comments about the Williams-Renault team operation that might have been construed as derogatory. After Piquet and Jones, Piquet and Mansell, and permutations of Prost, Senna and Mansell, we now have Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill. The racing may not be as well-balanced – Schumacher proving resoundingly the superior in their last four meetings – but the animosity between them seems genuine enough.
Schumacher, the champion and title-race leader, could not settle for total domination on the track in Sunday’s French Grand Prix – he also accused Hill of dangerous driving and hinted at possible reprisals.All of which will do just nicely in the build-up to the British Grand Prix, at Silverstone, on Sunday week. Formula One’s promoters will doubtless be relieved that although their World Championship appears to be a no contest, the two principals are doing their best to convey the impression they are engaged in a classic grudge match. “I’ve not ridden him before but he’s a nice horse and has had this as his target all year,” Darley said yesterday after being called up by David Loder for the 10-1 chance who was one of only nine horses left in the pounds 250,000 race at yesterday’s acceptance stage.
The field will be further reduced as Sheikh Mohammed is likely to be represented only by Singspiel, with Flemensfirth primed at other targets.Red Bishop, winner of valuable events in Hong Kong and the US on his last two starts, is one of two Godolphin runners, alongside last year’s Cambridgeshire winner, Halling, who has won three times in Dubai.ECLIPSE STAKES (Sandown, Saturday): Coral: 9-4 Muhtarram, 7-2 Eltish, Red Bishop, 7-1 Halling, Singspiel, 10-1 Prince Of Andros, 14-1 Tryphosa, 16-1 Flemensfirth, 33-1 Environment Friend.. Kevin Darley has been given the chance to make up for his Irish Derby disappointment by riding Prince Of Andros in Saturday’s Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

The unfortunate irony may be that, in his attempt to preserve the value of his stock, Celtic Swing’s owner has simply made the traders more jumpy than ever.. But I saw him last year as a two-year-old and I certainly didn’t think he was as bad as everyone makes out.”To be fair to Savill, who started the season with a potentially priceless asset, the 1995 campaign was always likely to present as many problems as triumphs. Horses with much worse legs have acted at Epsom, and while his may not be perfect, he’s not crooked either.”It wasn’t the brightest remark for his owner to make before Epsom and I felt then that he wasn’t helping his stud value because it’s getting ingrained in people’s minds that this is an incorrect horse. It is unfortunate, then, that the persistent attention focused on Celtic Swing’s forelegs, not least by Savill, may not just be unfair, but financially damaging.”Mr Savill used that as a big excuse for not running Celtic Swing in the Epsom Derby,” the agent said, “but I think that was a little unnecessary. “If a horse is walking at 10 to 2 rather than dead straight as it comes towards you, it’s something that can be thrown [ie, passed] on and it’s a conformation fault which people don’t like to see at the sales,” a leading bloodstock agent said yesterday.”If you stand straight in front of a horse and drop a line from the point of its shoulder to its feet, the perfect conformation is that it dissects the knee directly through the middle, and goes down through the ankle and the cannon bone with perfect symmetry either side.”Yet while Celtic Swing’s legs are not ideal, nor are those of many horses (one of Sharpo’s legs was twisted almost side-on, but it did not stop him becoming one of the finest sprinters since the war). Celtic Swing, indeed, suffered from shin splints as a juvenile.The crucial point, of course, is that while viruses disappear, physical problems may not, even when a colt retires from the track to a quieter life of procreation.

Adrian Ramos struck in injury time to deny Bayer Leverkusen a chance to increase their lead at the top of the German Bundesliga after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hertha Berlin.

Sony gives notice that the AIT format has reached its End of Life

The new leaders, PSV Eindhoven, who beat Roda JC Kerkrade 3-0, have a one-point advantage but have played a game more than the Amsterdam club.. The new owner of Londrina, a Brazilian Second Division club with serious financial problems, has devised a novel way of ensuring that his players carry on receiving their bonuses for good performances – he pays them in cattle. Sampdoria silenced the home fans by taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Roberto Mancini in the 21st minute and Christian Karembeu on the stroke of half-time. Second-placed Fiorentina, desperate to prevent Milan from turning Serie A into a victory procession, struck back in the 48th minute through Rui Costa. Anselmo Robbiati equalised in the 75th minute.
Milan thrashed Vicenza 4-0 on Saturday. Sampdoria dealt a blow to Fiorentina’s flickering Italian Serie A title hopes by holding out for a 2-2 draw in Florence that allowed the leaders, Milan, to go seven points clear. Substitutes not used: Lee, Burnett.Referee: G Willard (Worthing).

Attendance: 30,106.Bookings: Leeds: Worthington, Brolin, Wetherall Bolton: Bergsson.Man of the match: Branagan.. Substitute not used: Ford.Bolton (4-4-1-1): Branagan; Bergsson, Coleman, Fairclough, Phillips; Green, Stubbs, Sellars, Paatelainen; Curcic; Blake (De Freitas, 74). Rest assured, Howard Wilkinson will be reminding them of that fact this week, just as Colin Todd will be stressing that a third away win on the trot – at Coventry in two weeks – could make their arithmetic look a lot more hopeful.Goal: Bergsson (16) 0-1.Leeds United (4-4-2): Lukic; Radebe (Gray, 80), Wetherall, Beesley, Worthington (Couzens, 74); Wallace, McAllister, Palmer, Deane; Yeboah, Brolin. Several times Branagan had to scramble after shots that he had stopped but not held; but he always got there.He was also helped by a revamped defence, dominated by the uncomplicated and forceful Simon Coleman, with Gudni Bergsson, who scored Bolton’s goal, effective at right-back.Bolton added up to more than the sum of their parts going forward.

A line-up with just one front-runner – Nathan Blake, who has scored just once in three months and looks like it – should not strike terror into anybody. But Leeds, often ponderous and cumbersome, could easily have conceded further goals.In United’s defence, Howard Wilkinson had his usual litany of players missing through injury. More fundamental, especially in the first half, was the feeling that Premiership football was an unwarranted interruption to the Cup campaigning which has occupied them for the last month.”There were three or four who wanted to play and the rest just wanted to join in,” said Wilkinson, with the air of a man who had pointed out exactly who fell into which category at half-time.Leeds were far more committed after that interval, but, with Branagan in one of his impregnable moods, still finished badly embarrassed.During their knock-out exploits, it might have slipped Leeds’ minds that they are still not mathematically safe from relegation. Substitute not used: Armstrong.Referee: G Poll (Tring).Booked: Forest: Roy, Haaland.Man of the match: Howe Attendance: 21,930.. Leeds United O Bolton Wanderers 1

However their season ends – and the smart money, even in their home- town, remains on it being in relegation – Bolton will at least be able to boast of one feat of rising from the depths with a speed that would give a diver the bends.
Town and club were engulfed in gloom after last Sunday’s 6-0 defeat by Manchester United. There could have been nothing more painful to Bolton fans and it was clear from the reduced turn-out at Elland Road that many gave up on them as a result.What they missed was a revival six days later that suggested that maybe – if only maybe – all is not yet lost.Bolton made up ground on all the teams immediately above them by virtue of a stubborn rearguard action in which their goalkeeper, Keith Branagan, was outstanding.It was not always the tidiest goalkeeping.

Venus Williams brushed aside the challenge of Patty Schnyder to book her place in the third round of the Italian Open in Rome on her return to action.

DARPA’s balloon-chasing Network Challenge/Internet birthday party may involve thousands of participants