Menu

According to a report released by The Conference Board, the global business membership and research organization, productivity growth weakened substantially across the globe in 2011, with the drop-off most dramatic in advanced economies. The 2012 Productivity Brief, based on data from The Conference Board Total Economy Database™, shows productivity - typically measured as output per person employed or hour worked - increased at a much slower rate in 2011 than most economists had predicted, with the trend likely to continue into 2012.

Worldwide new vehicle sales in 2012 are expected to rise 6.7 percent over 2011 volumes to 77.7 million vehicles, according to Polk, a leading global automotive market intelligence firm. Polk analysts believe the global economy will weather the current European sovereign debt crisis and consumers will return to showrooms around the world in 2012.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Mexico declined 0.1 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index ® (CEI) increased 0.3 percent in July.