With 60% of the world’s population the economies of Asia are critically important to the growth of the world economy. While there are dramatic differences in the growth and output of the various Asian economies, many of the world’s fastest growing economies are located in Asia. This includes China, which has become a global powerhouse over the past two decades. The economic indicators that measure growth across Asia have become increasingly important to the growth in the rest of the world, and have a great impact on many markets, most particularly forex and commodity markets.