BITTER MEDICINE FOR GERMAN CONSUMERS.
German consumer confidence moved off rock bottom in the second and
third quarters of 2003, but household and business pessimism will hinder
high-end spending at least into the second quarter of . . .
RUSSIA'S CONSUMPTION BOOM TO SPREAD.
The agonizing decline in private sector spending that accompanied
the economic crash of August 1998 is becoming a distant memory as
foreign investors flock back in and Russian consumers frequent . . .
HUNGARY ADJUSTS TO SLOWER GROWTH.
The average Hungarian household saw its living standards and real
income expand dramatically in the decade since the communist collapse,
but consumer confidence is likely to slip when the . . .
CZECH RETAIL SECTOR IN TRANSITION.(Brief Article)
The Czech Republic is slated to join the EU in May of 2004 and will
probably join the eurozone as soon as possible after that. Those moves
should speed the retail sector consolidation that has been . . .
AUSTRIAN TRADE TO LEAD IN RECOVERY.(Brief Article)
Internal demand for Austrian goods and services softened in recent
quarters, but the biggest blow to sales came from declining exports to
other eurozone nations.
Austrias purchasing power parity . . .
IRELAND SIDESTEPS COMMERCIAL DECLINE.(Brief Article)
In spite of a downturn in external sales, strong internal demand
persisted in the third quarter and should continue to do so through at
least the first half of next year.
In recent months, export . . .
NETHERLANDS CONSUMPTION BOTTOMS OUT.(Brief Article)
The consumption climate is improving modestly in the Netherlands
but private sector demand for goods and services is not likely to revive
until well into 2004.
The governments willingness to . . .
SPANISH INTERNAL DEMAND TO REMAIN FIRM.
Internal demand for goods and services in Spain has been stronger
than projected this year and the favorable consumption climate should
persist well into 2004. However, healthy gains in internal . . .
EUROZONE PRIVATE DEMAND REMAINS DEPRESSED.
At the outset of 2003, it appeared that eurozone private sector
consumption would emerge from the doldrums by the third quarter, but
there is little chance that sustainable upward momentum in . . .
NORWEGIAN COMMERCE TO REBOUND.
Norwegian commerce hit the bottom of its cyclical trough during the
second quarter of 2003 and the recovery phase is likely to bring two
years of moderate to strong growth in private sector . . .
HUNGARIAN HOUSING BOOM SHAPES DEMAND.
The recent boom in Hungarian private sector housing projects is
boosting demand for construction-related products and services and
should also put upward pressure on sales of household goods. . . .
A SURGE IN BULGARIAN CAPITAL SPENDING.
Bulgarian private sector spending should experience healthy gains
during 2004, but much of the upward momentum will be driven by capital
investment. The value of foreign direct investment should . . .
THE RAPID RISE OF CZECH WATER PARKS.(Brief Article)
The first water park constructed in the Czech Republic opened only
three years ago but a total of 30 have been built to date and 10 more
are being developed. Rapid growth in the number of . . .
MIXED SIGNALS FROM IRISH PRIVATE SECTOR.(Brief Article)
Private sector consumption in Ireland lost most of its upward
momentum during 2003 and the panorama for the first half of 2004
portends continued sluggishness. Consumer confidence slipped during . . .
BELGIAN CONFIDENCE ON THE REBOUND.(Brief Article)
Belgian consumer confidence and overall commercial activity appear
to have bottomed out during the first half of 2003 and gradual but
sustainable upward momentum is likely to prevail through the . . .
GERMANY EXPORTS ITS WAY TO RECOVERY.(Brief Article)
With internal demand for goods and services still depressed,
Germany is focusing its attention on achieving economic recovery through
growth in export sales. Consumer confidence at the household . . .
AGING SHAPES BRITISH CONSUMPTION.(Brief Article)
For the first time, the number of Britons 60 years of age and over
is higher than the number under the age of 16. Upward movement in the
average age will continue for the foreseeable future and . . .
FRENCH CONSUMPTION STIMULI MAY COME UP SHORT.
Recent federal income tax cuts were implemented in hopes of
stimulating French private sector consumption, but there is little
evidence that they are getting the desired result. French . . .
PORTUGAL FACES SLACK INTERNAL DEMAND.
Hobbled by high unemployment and the governments inability to fund
a spending stimulus package, Portugal is headed for slow growth in
private sector spending through at least the first half of . . .
IRELAND'S CONSUMPTION CLIMATE IMPROVES.
Several factors portend an improvement in Irelands consumption
climate during 2004, but a rebound in export sales will be needed to
generate sustainable growth in commercial activity.
The . . .
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