The U.S. economy continues to expand, although its future course is uncertain. Personal spending is increasing. Capital investment is slowing down in reaction to the sharp increase in the July-September quarter. Housing investment has been decreasing. Employment is rising.
Prices are generally stable.
In the second half of the month, stock prices remained in a downward trend, ending the month lower. In Western Europe, the German economy is improving, while the French and the U.K. economies are expanding. Turning to East Asia, the pace of economic growth is slowing in China, and prices are declining. China's exports are rising. The South Korean economy is expanding and its unemployment rate is in a downward trend.