The Conference Board CEI for Spain, a measure of current economic activity, declined again in July, with industrial production (excluding construction) continuing to make the largest negative contribution. Between January and July 2009, the coincident economic index fell by 3.2 percent (about a -6.2 percent annual rate), slower than the 5.3 percent decline (about a -10.3 percent annual rate) for the previous six months. Additionally, the weaknesses among the coincident indicators have remained very widespread, with none of the components increasing during the past six months. At the same time, real GDP contracted at a 4.2 percent annual rate during the second quarter of 2009, following a decline of 6.2 percent annual rate for the first quarter.
After trending downward for more than a year, The Conference Board LEI for Spain remained almost flat during the second quarter before recording its largest increase since 2005 this month. Overall, the index was unchanged over the past six months. Meanwhile, The Conference Board CEI for Spain has been falling since its most recent peak in February 2008, though the rate of its decline has moderated during the past few months. Taken together, the recent behavior of the composite economic indexes suggests that the pace of contraction will continue to moderate in the near term.
LEADING INDICATORS
Five of the six components that make up The Conference Board LEI for Spain increased in July. The positive contributors - in order from the largest positive contributor to the smallest - are order books survey, the Spanish equity price index, the Spanish contribution to Euro M2, job placings, and the (inverted) long-term government bond yield. The capital equipment component of industrial production was the only negative contributor in July.
With the increase of 0.9 percent in July, The Conference Board LEI for Spain now stands at 107.1 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index increased 0.2 percent in June and declined 0.1 percent in May. During the six-month span through July, the index remained unchanged, and five of the six components advanced (diffusion index, six-month span equals 83.3 percent).
COINCIDENT INDICATORS
Three of the five components that make up The Conference Board CEI for Spain increased in July. The positive contributors - in order from the largest positive contributor to the smallest - are retail sales survey, employment, and real imports. Industrial production excluding construction and final household consumption declined in July.
With the decrease of 0.2 percent in July, The Conference Board CEI for Spain now stands at 100.9 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index decreased 0.2 percent in June and decreased 0.6 percent in May. During the six-month span through July, the index decreased 3.2 percent, and none of the five components advanced (diffusion index, six-month span equals 0.0 percent).
