Taiwan Business Indicators in May 2018
Press Release
National Development Council (NDC)
June 27, 2018
In May 2018, the overall monitoring indicator flashed “green” signal. The total score increased by two points to 28. The trend-adjusted leading index and the coincident index decreased from the previous month. The government will be closely monitoring the economic situation.
- The Monitoring Indicators: The total score in May 2018 increased by two points to 28, flashing the “green” signal for the fourth month. Among the nine components, the real monetary aggregates M1B gained one point to change its individual light from “yellow-blue” to “green”, the real customs-cleared exports and the TIER manufacturing sector composite indicator each gained one point to change its individual light from “green” to “yellow-red”. While the industrial production index loss one point to change its individual light from “yellow-red” to “green”. The light signal from the rest of five components remained unchanged.
- Leading Indicators: With revised data, the trend-adjusted leading index stood at 100.70, down by 0.07% from last month. Among the seven indicators making up the trend-adjusted index, real monetary aggregates M1B, building permits, and the TIER manufacturing sector composite indicator had positive cyclical movements from the previous month, while the index of export orders, real imports of semiconductor equipment, TAIEX average closing price, and net accession rate of employees on payrolls of industry and services had negative cyclical movements.
- Coincident Indicators: With revised data, the trend-adjusted coincident index stood at 100.69, down by 0.24% from last month. Among the seven indicators making up the trend-adjusted index, sales of trade and food services, and the index of producer’s shipment for manufacturing had positive cyclical movements, while electric power consumption, real machineries and electrical equipments imports, real customs-cleared exports, the industrial production index, and nonagricultural employments had negative cyclical movements.
- Lagging Indicators: With revised data, the trend-adjusted lagging index stood at 99.57, down by 0.27% from last month. Among six indicators making up the trend-adjusted index, loans and investments of monetary financial institutions, the inventories to sales ratio for manufacturing , and the interbank overnight call-loan rate had positive cyclical movements, while the manufacturing unit output labor cost index, the unemployment rate (inverted) , and employees on payrolls in industry and services had negative cyclical movements.
~~ Next publication date: July 27 2018 ~~