Taiwan Business Indicators in April 2010
Press Release
Council for Economic Planning and Development
May 27, 2010
In April 2010, Taiwan Business Indicators indicated that economy has been picking up steadily. Among the indicators compiled by the Cabinet’s Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), the annualized six-month rate of change of leading index decreased 2.8 points, the trend-adjusted coincident index rose by 0.3 % from the previous month, and the overall monitoring indicator flashed the "red" signal for the fourth consecutive month.
1. Leading Indicators: With revised data, the composite leading index stood at 109.6, up by 0.4% from March. Its annualized six-month rate of change declined by 2.8 points to 13.4%. Among the seven indicators making up the trend-adjusted index, SEMI book-to-bill ratio, real monetary aggregates M1B, index of export orders, and index of producer's inventory for manufacturing had negative cyclical movement from previous month. Average monthly overtime in industry and services, building permits, and stock price index had positive cyclical movements from previous month.
2. Coincident Indicators: With revised data, the coincident index stood at 110.1, up by 0.2% from March. Its trend-adjusted index rose by 0.3% to 109.2, increasing for the fifteenth consecutive month. Among the seven indicators making up the trend-adjusted index, real customs-cleared exports, real imports of machineries and electrical equipments, electric power consumption, sales index of wholesale, retail, and food services, and nonagricultural employment had positive cyclical movement from previous month. Industrial production index and the index of producer’s shipment for manufacturing had negative cyclical movements from previous month.
3. The Monitoring Indicators: The total score recorded 39 in April, remaining at the same level of March. The overall light signal was flashing the "red" signal for the fourth consecutive month. Among the nine components, direct and indirect finance gained one point and changed its individual light signal from "blue" to "yellow-blue". Sales index of wholesale, retail and food services lost one point and changed its individual light signal from "red" to "yellow-red". The light signals for the rest of seven components remained unchanged.
4. T~~ The next release is scheduled for June 28, 2010 ~~T