Essential Business Acronyms, Communication & Data Terms
Common Business & Economic Acronyms
- AER
- Annual Equivalent Rate
- B/E
- Bill of Exchange
- BIC
- Bank Identifier Code
- CDO
- Collateralized Debt Obligations
- CEO
- Chief Executive Officer
- CFR
- Cost and Freight (Incoterm)
- CIF
- Cost Insurance and Freight (Incoterm)
- CPI
- Consumer Price Index
- DDP
- Delivered Duty Paid (Incoterm)
- ECB
- European Central Bank
- EEC
- European Economic Community
- EFTA
- European Free Trade Association
- EXW
- Ex Works (Incoterm)
- FAS
- Free Alongside Ship (Incoterm)
- FCA
- Free Carrier (Incoterm)
- FOB
- Free On Board (Incoterm)
- GATT
- General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
- GDP
- Gross Domestic Product
- ICC
- International Chamber of Commerce
- IMF
- International Monetary Fund
- INCOTERMS
- International Commercial Terms
- IPO
- Initial Public Offering
- ISA
- Individual Savings Account
- L/C
- Letter of Credit
- NATO
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- NPV
- Net Present Value
- OECD
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
- PIT
- Personal Income Tax
- SIV
- Structured Investment Vehicle
- SWOT
- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
- TTIP
- Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
- VAT
- Value Added Tax
- WBG
- World Bank Group
- WTO
- World Trade Organization
Sample Business Enquiry Email
To: [Recipient Email/Name]
From: [Sender Email/Name]
Subject: Garment Supply Enquiry
Dear Sir/Madam,
We saw the selection of garments displayed on your stand at the Menswear Exhibition held in Paris last month.
We are a large chain of retailers in the UK and are looking for a manufacturer who could supply us with a wide range of t-shirts for the teenage market.
As we usually place very large orders, we would expect a quantity discount in addition to a 20% trade discount off net list prices. If these conditions interest you, and you can meet orders of over 500 garments at one time, please send us your current catalogue and price list, quoting prices DDP London.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name/Company Name]
Sample Reply to Enquiry Email
To: [Recipient Email/Name]
From: [Sender Email/Name]
Subject: Re: Product Supply Enquiry
Dear [Recipient Name],
Thank you for your enquiry of 12 December, requesting information about dinner and tea services. Please find attached the catalogue and price list you asked for. You will see that we can offer a wide selection of dinner and tea services (details regarding specifications and guarantees are included).
You can choose from more than fifty designs, which include the elegance of “La Cartuja” and the richness of Talavera colours.
We would be pleased to add your clients to our list of customers throughout the world and could promise them an excellent product with first-class service. We would be glad to accept orders for any number of pieces and can mix sets if required.
You will see that our prices are quoted CIF Barcelona seaport, and we are offering a special 10% discount off all net prices, with delivery within three weeks from receipt of order.
If there is any further information you require, please contact us. Once again, thank you for your letter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name/Company Name]
Business Vocabulary: Synonyms
- Insulting: unflattering
- To make an impact: impinge
- Really: in fact, actually
- Prediction: forecasting
- People: human beings
- Sad: gloomy, dismal
- Erratic: unpredictable action, vagary
- Famous: well-known
- Suppose: assume
- Lend: loan (Note: ‘ban’ is not a synonym for ‘lend’)
- Aim: objectives
- Research: investigation
- Collateral: guarantee
- To make money: to make a profit
- Leading firms: outstanding companies
- Tender: an offer
Business Vocabulary: Antonyms
- Borrowers <> Lenders
- Higher <> Lower
- Developed countries <> Developing countries
- Employees <> Employers
- Poverty <> Wealth
- Loan <> Borrow
- Die <> Survive
- Assets <> Liability
Analysis of Car Sales Graph
This graph shows last year’s car sales. The x-axis represents the twelve months of the past year, while the y-axis shows sales in millions of dollars.
It may be seen clearly that sales rose steadily in the first half of the year and reached their peak in June. Then, they dropped in July and levelled out in August.
After rising sharply during September, they suffered a dramatic fall in October but then made a significant recovery in November. However, the year ended with a slight downturn.