The economic recovery of Japan is fast beyond expectation, although it remains to be seen whether it turns out to be structural. There are signs that the Southeast Asian countries are over the worst crisis. This figure is only slightly down on the relatively high growth rates of the previous quarters.
Household consumption remains the motor of economic growth.
In July, consumer confidence in the Dutch economy reached its highest level in ten months. Industrial production seems to be picking up. The inflation rate for June was stable but compared to the Euro zone as a whole the price rises are relatively high. Registered unemployment continues to fall. The number of vacancies at the end of the first quarter was the highest ever observed by Statistics Netherlands.