Sets Minimum Price for Alcohol. 6 Billion to Help Fund Building of Roads, Rails. Economics Commentary 4- German unemployment falls as retail sales rise. Becoming President of the World. Wal-Mart to Open Half of Japan Stores Closed After Quake.

UK consumer inflation hits 16-year peak. By Andrew Taylor and Delphine Strauss. Unions on Tuesday night dismissed calls from the chancellor to curb pay demands as inflation hit its highest level for 16 years, leaving little prospect of near-term cuts in interest rates. Food prices are now more than 10 per cent higher than a year ago, and the average price of petrol has risen 5. 3p a litre in the past month to 117.

Thanks for dropping by Andreas Blog! Take a look around and grab the RSS feed. Record fall in domestic Japanese car sales. It said sales would continue to be subdued in the months ahead because of a continuing shortage of parts.