VIETNAM'S CAPITAL SPENDING GAINS.(Brief Article)
Overall private sector expenditure is poised for growth this year,
but the upswing in capital spending will easily outpace that of
households. Vietnams membership in ASEAN and pending WTO . . .
SINGAPORE'S GROWING OPTIMISM.(Brief Article)
Growing optimism at both the household and industrial level
portends moderate growth in private sector spending throughout this
year, with capital spending leading the way in gains.
Considering . . .
INDONESIA RECOVERS AT A SNAIL'S PACE.
Indonesian consumers have suffered a number of setbacks in recent
years and the slow pace of the current economic recovery will make it
impossible to improve household well-being this year.
High . . .
AUSTRALIAN CONFIDENCE UNSCATHED.(Brief Article)
Australian consumer confidence hit a nine-year high in October of
2003 and is likely to remain strong through the first half of this year.
Over the past 12 months, real household income got a . . .
A MODEST UPSWING IN JAPANESE SALES.(Brief Article)
There are signs that the macroeconomic panorama for private sector
Japanese consumption is brightening, yet an increasing industrial trend
toward moving production and administrative functions . . .
NEW ZEALANDERS OPEN TO NEW PRODUCT CONCEPTS.
Real household income in New Zealand is on the rise and consumers
are becoming increasingly receptive to innovative domestic and imported
products.
New Zealand is a moderately price-sensitive . . .
AUSTRALIA'S FIRM PRIVATE DEMAND.
With consumer confidence running high and the consumption panorama
looking better than it has in years, it appears that 2004 will be
another favorable year for Australian private sector . . .
JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL SPENDING RISES.
Japans internal demand for goods and services has yet to come back
to life but export sales are up. That, in turn, is boosting demand for
raw materials and intermediate goods on the part of leading . . .
VIETNAM LIMITED IN HIGH-END SPENDING.
Urban household wealth is on the rise in the cities of Vietnam, but
not for 75 percent of the populace that lives outside urban areas. Urban
consumers have experienced modest but steady growth in . . .
STRONG RETAIL SALES IN NEW ZEALAND.
Retail sales growth in New Zealand has exceeded expectations during
2003 and the favorable consumption climate portends additional
year-on-year gains during the first half of 2004. Factors that . . .
PAKISTAN'S CAPITAL SPENDING RISES.
Pakistani capital expenditure will rise as industries and the
government expand their budgets for 2004. The strongest growth segment
will be infrastructure spending, where strong medium- to . . .
PRIVATE LABEL GROWTH IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Growth in sales of private label consumer goods will exceed 30
percent per annum in 2003 and 2004, yet these products still have a very
small market share. Over the next year, the strongest private . . .
INDIA TO REDUCE TRADE BARRIERS.
The Indian government finds itself under intense pressure from
within and without to drop protective trade barriers that have stifled
international commerce since independence. Free trade . . .
KOREAN CONSUMERS STRUGGLE WITH DEBT.
The rate of consumer debt is rapidly rising in South Korea but the
government is reluctant to take corrective measures for fear of
undermining already sluggish internal demand. Loose credit . . .
CHINESE HOUSEHOLDS MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT SPENDING.
The level of Chinese household consumption stabilized during the
third quarter of 2003 after a prolonged period of dynamic growth. A
recent survey conducted by the Peoples Bank of China showed that . . .
VIETNAMESE GROWTH HINGES ON TRADE.
Internal demand for goods and services is on the rise in Vietnam,
yet overall economic expansion hinges on export sales.
With a purchasing power parity per capita of US$2,200 per annum,
Vietnam . . .
JAPANESE DEMAND AWAKENS.
Japanese private sector demand has been in a prolonged state of
hibernation, but the first signs of an awakening emerged as capital
spending rose during the second quarter of this year.
The first . . .
AUSTRALIA'S GROWTH SPURT WINDS DOWN.(Brief Article)
There are numerous signs that the spurt in private sector demand
that offset Australias weak export sales over the past two years is
winding down. Department store sales have been hardest hit . . .
PAKISTAN TO IMPORT USED EQUIPMENT.(Brief Article)
The Pakistani governments recent decision to allow importing used
equipment should boost overall sales of capital goods from abroad
through the remainder of this year and 2004.
During the third . . .
TAIWAN'S VALUE ADDED INDUSTRY.(Brief Article)
Taiwanese industries are investing heavily in mainland production
facilities, yet the islands industrial base is strong and should get
stronger as its product offerings move up the value added . . .
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