Singapore is doing well.

Singapore is having a dry spell - the worst in 29 years, according to a short item posted on the Asia Inc. Website. The last really bad year was 1976. The drought has led to an increase in brush fires, with 388 having been fought since January 1. There were 500 brush fires in all of 2004, and 355 in 2003.

The drought and fires seems not to have dampened tourism, though, an important component of GDP and source of income for Singapore's consumers. The Singapore Tourism Board is expecting 8.9-million tourists this year who are expected to provide US$626-million for the economy. Last year, 8.3-million tourists arrived and spent US$578-million.

The attractions of Singapore are apparently quite evident to its residents. A recent poll of the expectations of retirees in 15 countries showed that people who live in Singapore want to retire at the youngest age - 54. People who live in Hong Kong, Canada and Australia want to retire at age 55. The country that came in with the latest average wished-for retirement age was Japan, at 61.