Economic

Several Houses Minor have lodged formal pleas with the Landstraad today over fears that un-named Houses are stockpiling food stuffs . Although no official shortages have yet been declared, there has been a significant shortfall in food stuffs available this month. Analysts have put the increase in demand for food stuffs over the past months as temporary increase for redevelopment projects and maintenance of House food stockpiles. Local markets are still healthy and food stocks are no still well above critical levels.

The Empire wide economic crises in CHOAM took on ever more ominous tones this week as auditors discovered underhanded dealings by one of our own directors. In an announcement to House Alman, later made public before the Landsraad, it was made known that CHOAM auditors had discovered that records had been falsified to try and frame the Almans for spice hoarding. They further revealed that the source of these falsified records was none other then House Poritrin.

In a stunning move following on from our last report, the Imperial House Corrino assembled their finest Mentats to put forward their case within the CHOAM Directorate in a bid to enact the Throne’s earlier announcement during the Landsraad General Plenary that Houses Atreides, Maros, Poritrin and Ziyaira would be removed from CHOAM’s governing body.

In a formal declaration before the Landsraad Congress during the General Plenary, Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV has dismissed just under half of CHOAM’s Board of Directors. Citing inactivity in Board debates, disinterest in economic affairs and dereliction of duty in the face of economic and political crises, the Emperor and largest shareholder dismissed Houses Atreides, Maros, Poritrin and Ziyaira.

CHOAM again is under attack from Landstraad members, as its role within the Imperuim is once more brought into question. Until recently, criticism of CHOAM's Directorship has been isolated and lacking conviction. However, its failure to regulate an economy in recession, deal with the increasing product shortages and its inactivity to respond to these issues have compelled more Houses and prominent figures to speak out.

Once again the Empire faces a shortage of important goods. On top of the recently noted shortage of slave labor due to the fall of Geidi Prime, we must now contend with an even more serious lack of munitions making it to market. While some might see this as a good thing, i.e. a lack of ability for the various houses to engage in wastefull wars, most of the greater and lesser Houses are quite alarmed by this turn of events.

In a stunning announcment from the Guild directors, the nobility and great schools of the Empire learned of significant increases in the prices for the coming years shipping fees. Accross the board rate increases have been put into effect which raises the prices that everyone wishing to do business in the Empire must bear. In some cases these increases can amount to more then a 300% hike that leaves many of the smaller houses wondering how they will manage to keep doing business.

Despite numerous obstacles House Wikkheiser has ended the long spice drought which has gripped the great houses of the empire. Earlier today some 40 lida of spice was delivered to the markets of Choam. This was natually greeted with relief from many quarters but it is still tempered with great misgivings from others.

The Ixian Confederacy, one of the leading economies in the Imperium renowned for its technological advancements and one of the largest manufactures of industrial and high tech goods, is facing serious scrutiny over how healthy its economy really is. Leaked production reports seem to suggest that the state of the Ixian Confederacy's economy is much worse than previously thought with documents describing production levels 15% lower than previous official records indicated.