SLOW GROWTH FOR UK PRIVATE SPENDING.
The outlook for commercial growth in the UK looks good, but not
spectacular. Retail sales dipped during the first half of 2003 before
rebounding in the third quarter.
GDP grew 2 percent in 2003, . . .
SLOW EU REFORMS HURT COMPETITIVENESS.(Brief Article)
Early in this decade, the EU set the goal of overtaking the United
States in competitiveness by 2010. The slow pace of structural reforms
and the dearth of entrepreneurs make it increasingly . . .
HUNGARIAN PUBLICITY UNDER THE EU.(public relations
spending)(Brief Article)
Hungarys accession to the EU is likely to boost publicity spending
in some sectors as a growing number of international suppliers of goods
and services vie for market share.
Sectors that will . . .
SLOVAKIA- A CONSUMER BASE ON THE RISE.
Domestic demand for Slovakian goods dropped off sharply during the
first half of 2003 and that will contribute to healthy year-on-year
sales gains by the second quarter of 2004. However, when . . .
SALES OF FRENCH FINISHED GOODS TO RISE.(Brief Article)
French industrial activity showed early signs of recovery in the
third quarter of 2003 and moderate upward momentum will prevail through
the first half of this year. France escaped recession thanks . . .
GERMANY EMERGES FROM SPENDING SLUMP.(Brief Article)
During the third quarter of 2003, Germany pulled out of its second
recession in two years and rising export sales should be enough to
sustain the anemic growth pattern that has emerged since then.
. . .
IRISH CONSUMER SENTIMENT IMPROVES.(Brief Article)
Consumer confidence began to rebound during the third quarter of
2003 and the generalized improvement should persist through at least the
first quarter of this year. At the outset of the fourth . . .
CONFIDENCE IMPROVES AS ITALIAN RECESSION ENDS.
During the second half of 2003, Italy pulled out of recession and
entered a pattern of slow and segmental recovery that should persist
through 2004 and 2005. Throughout the first half of 2004, . . .
FINANCING TO BOOST CHINA'S HIGH-END SALES.(heavy
industry)
Slowly but surely, China is making strides toward financial
maturity by establishing a framework for consumer lending by non-bank
institutions.
The high-end sector that will most immediately . . .
VIETNAMESE TRADE ON THE RISE.(U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade
Agreement)
The US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement signed in December of 2001
is having a profound positive impact on Vietnamese private and public
sector expenditure.
The impact of the agreement on trade . . .
ASIA AS A POLE OF CONSUMPTION.(Brief Article)
As the number of Asians flocking to hypermarkets and malls grow by
the millions each year, Asia is emerging as a pole of consumption that
counterbalances the United States. That is contributing to . . .
HONG KONG'S ROLLER COASTER OUTLOOK.(economic forecast)(Brief
Article)
Five years of deflation have undermined private sector expenditure
in Hong Kong, but several favorable external factors will contribute to
growth in commercial activity as 2004 progresses.
The . . .
PHILIPPINES BUSINESS SPENDING RISES.(Brief Article)
Commercial activity in the Philippines dipped over the past two
years, but increased business expenditure will contribute to a recovery
in internal demand in 2004. Rising household and business . . .
THAI INTERNAL DEMAND GAINS STRENGTH.(consumer goods)
Growing internal and external demand for Thai goods has boosted the
confidence of consumers and business leaders over the past year. As a
result, orders for durable consumer goods and capital goods . . .
KOREAN CONSUMER DEBT RAISES EYEBROWS.(Brief Article)
Two years ago, when signs of an economic slowdown emerged in South
Korea, the government encouraged credit card use as a means of
stimulating sales of consumer goods. Now, many analysts believe . . .
AUSTRALIAN ORDERS FOR DURABLES SET TO RISE.(durable goods)(Brief
Article)
Australian manufacturing activity gained momentum during the second
half of 2003 thanks to growing internal and external demand for the
nations goods and services. Industry leaders are bullish and . . .
JAPAN'S COMMERCIAL RECOVERY ON TRACK.
Deflationary pressures in Japan have diminished in recent months
and industrial production is on the rise. Nevertheless, internal demand
for Japanese goods and services is likely to remain slack . . .
MALAYSIA PROJECTS HEALTHY SALES GAINS.
Malaysias new prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, takes over an
economy that succeeded in sidestepping the recent global economic
slowdown.
An upsurge in oil and gas prices coupled with an . . .
BREAKING CHINESE BUYING HABITS.
China is quickly emerging as a major force in global consumption
but deeply ingrained buying habits of the average citizen are slow to
change.
Only about 10 percent of Chinas 40 million . . .
THAI CONSUMPTION PANORAMA BRIGHTENS.(Brief Article)
Industrial orders for goods and services have driven up private
sector expenditure in recent months and the upward trend should continue
through the first half of this year.
Orders for imported . . .
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