Retail trade turnover falls 2.2% last year
As BNN-news.com reports on January 28th, 2011, retail trade turnover at constant prices dropped 2.2% in 2010, compared to the previous year, including companies trading food products – by 5.3%, but non-food products – by 0.4%.
According to the seasonally adjusted data at constant prices, December 2010 (excluding the pre-celebration shopping) the total retail trade turnover decreased by 1.4%, compared to November. The retail trade of non-food products declined by 1.9%, but the retail trade of food products plummeted 1.2%, the Central Statistical Bureau indicates.
Read the full article in bnn-news.com. There is also a latvian version available of this article.
Ventbunkers in negotiations with LITASCO
AS Ventbunkers
On January 28th, 2011 - the AS Ventbunkers press service published a press release about the current situation with the AS Ventbunkers client LITASCO.
As the press release expresses, the terminals of Ventbunkers are currently blocked by LITASCO. This, by not taking over their oil from the Ventbunkers terminals and thus blocking the terminals.
This situation is now ongoing since christmas last year - and costs Ventbunkers millions every day. A loss in turnover and profit which will be difficult to compensate during 2011.
Rudolf Meroni in LETA article (TM Security)
Dr. Rudolf Meroni / AS Ventbunkers
In their article published on January 30th, 2011 - Kārlis Lithens LETA and Aija Rutka LETA describe the current situation around the latvian security company "TM Security".
TM Security was involved in several fights about access to premises of AS Ventbunkers - where they claimed to be hired for security - which turned out to be untrue.
The security company's armed guards tried to prevent AS Ventbunkers officials (management board and supervisory board members) from entering their own offices (!!!). Incredible situation.
Rudolf Meroni: his role in oil transit
A new video has been published by AS Ventbunkers. This video which is a video statement of the chairman of the supervisory board of AS Ventbunkers - Dr. Rudolf Meroni - explains, how Meroni got into the oil transit business in Ventpils. Videos of Dr. Rudolf Meroni can also be found in interceder.
Lukoil seeks to extend the contract with VENTBUNKERS
Railroad jam
Nozare.info reports on January 18, 2011 on the peculiar situation of Ventbunkers (VBU) and the Russian oil giant Lukoil.
Lukoil (or their subsidiary company Litasco) is trying to force VBU sign a new contract by failing to load the terminal stored passwords, and blocking the possibility of handling other customer load.
Merks Board Chairman: glad about tender loss
Ivars Geidāns
The Baltic News Network reports in their article dated January 17,2011:
On considering the history of this project, I am rather glad than regretful that we lost the tender. It turns we had calculated the most precise and beneficial construction price for the state, when compared to the competitors’ one.
Latvian Traders Association President: Latvia is too small
Henriks Danusevics
A BNN article from January 18, 2011: Latvia is too small for Lidl, who has other markets where to develop, the President of the Latvian Traders Association Henriks Danusevics told the business news portal BNN.
Latvian Employers Confederation forecasts salary climb
Construction work
The BNN news network report in their article dated January 14, 2011 about a forecasted salary increase in the trade and construction industry.
The registered unemployment rate will drop in 2011 for sure – first and foremost due to the fact because jobless persons have already made use of all types of support programmes. It will not be beneficial for them to continue being unemployed, considers the Latvian Employers’ Confederation.
Post-crisis payment card counterfeit is not that smart
Zanda Brīvule-Jansone
An article published on January 12, 2011 reports on counterfeits happened with paymend cards recently. The BNN baltic news network reports as follows:
Payment card forgers were smarter before the crisis, it was harder to catch them, however at the moment, probably because of the despair their methods are simpler, says the largest payment card service provider First Data Latvija Executive Director Zanda Brīvule-Jansone, asserting that clients money is in safe hands.
BNN: Vilnius shows the lowest food prices
BNN article on January 7th, 2011: Compared to the same period in 2009, most food product prices surged in all three Baltic Sates’ capitals in December 2010, according to the Agricultural Market Promotion Centre (AMPC) data.
All three Baltic States reported similar price changes at capitals’ stores – in late 2010 the prices were higher than at the end of 2009; yet lower than in late 2008.