Happy New Month! Here is couple of things you are waking up to this first day of August:

1. Inflation dropped to a 17-month low in July, setting the stage for a further reduction in interest rates to the benefit of consumers and businesses.- Business Daily

2.  Kenya Airways has outsourced the air cabin crew staff function as it moves to put a lid on rising staff costs and shield itself against labour unrest ahead of the launch of its low-cost carrier. - Daily Nation

3.  Kenyan women are fast emerging as the biggest investors in mid-market real estate, with 62 percent of property purchases at Eastlands development Casa Mia in Nairobi having been made by female buyers, echoing a trend that has seen women rising globally as property investors since the late 1990s.- Ventures Africa

4.  Kenyan banks were victims of more than half the Sh4.1 billion ($48.3 million) fraud that hit East African banks last year as technology made the crime easier. - Business Daily

5.  Banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions are being urged to establish a structured framework where they can share fraud information amongst themselves to help reduce the rise of money laundering and fraud cases in East Africa. - Capital Business

6.  How to choose a great franchise? - Business Trade

7. High transport fees raise business costs - Daily Nation

8.  General Motors East Africa is training its eyes on the East African market, with emerging economies holding key to its business growth. KTN's Michael Karanja sought to find out from the firm its business proposition at a time when used vehicle sales is outnumbering new ones in the market. KTN