The Conference Board CEI for Germany, a measure of current economic activity, registered its largest monthly decline in its 44 year history in January. All four components declined and industrial production and manufacturing sales made the largest negative contributions. Between July 2008 and January 2009, the coincident economic index decreased by 2.9 percent (about a -5.8 percent annual rate), far below the 0.1 percent increase (about a 0.2 percent annual rate) during the previous six months. At the same time, real GDP declined at an average annual rate of 5.2 percent during the second half of 2008 (including a -8.2 annual rate during the fourth quarter), its largest two-quarter contraction since 1963.
The Conference Board LEI for Germany has been generally falling since July 2007. The pace of this decline has continued to accelerate in recent months and the six-month growth rate for the index has dropped to the lowest level in its 44 year history. Meanwhile, The Conference Board CEI for Germany has fallen sharply since August 2008. Taken together, the persistent and deep declines in the composite economic indexes continue to suggest that the economic downturn should continue through at least the first half of 2009, and that the contraction in economic activity may remain deep in the near term.
LEADING INDICATORS
Two of the seven components in The Conference Board LEI for Germany increased in January. The positive contributors - in order from the largest positive contributor to the smallest - are yield spread, and inventory change series. Negative contributors - in order from largest to smallest - are new orders in investment goods industries, consumer confidence, new residential construction orders, stock prices and gross enterprises and properties income.
With the 2.2 percent decrease in January, The Conference Board LEI for Germany now stands at 89.6 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index declined 2.8 percent in December and declined 2.2 percent in November. During the six-month span through January, the index decreased 11.1 percent, with two of the seven components increasing (diffusion index, six-month span equals 28.6 percent).
COINCIDENT INDICATORS
None of the four components that make up The Conference Board CEI for Germany increased in January. The negative contributors were industrial production, manufacturing sales, employed persons, and retail trade.
With the 1.4 percent decrease in January, The Conference Board CEI for Germany now stands at 102.4 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index decreased 0.6 percent in December and decreased 0.6 percent in November. During the six-month period through January, the index decreased 2.9 percent, with none of the four components increasing (diffusion index, six-month span equals 12.5 percent).
