The U.S. economy continues to expand, although its future course is uncertain. Personal spending is increasing. Capital investment has slowed down in reaction to the sharp increase in the July-September quarter. The growth in housing investment has been slackening. Employment is rising.
Prices are generally stable.
In Western Europe, the French and the U.K. economies are expanding, while the German economy is also expanding, albeit gradually. Prices are generally stable in France and stable in the U.K. Turning to East Asia, the pace of economic growth is slowing in China, and prices are declining. Chinese exports are rising. The South Korean economy is expanding. South Korean trade, both exports and imports, are rising sharply.