2014 World Manufacturing Conditions

Alcoa published this graph picturing estimated yearly growth in demand in several sectors. These sectors are all heavy aluminium users which is the branch Alcoa operates in. As you can see Aerospace and commercial building and construction are expected to see the highest growth. Most growth comes from China, as can be expected. In North America most of the sectors are also expected to increase.

Business Insider

Dutch Economy in 8 Graphs

With the Dutch elections today this chart may come in handy. The Dutch economy is doing 'better' for most of the indicators than the Euro zone average. Late tonight (local time) the first estimation of the results are expected. A close result between the right party (VVD) and the left party (PVDA) is very likely. A colation needs to be formed to make the new government.

Reuters

Big Euro Zone Countries GDP Since 2007

The previous post showed the quarterly growth for selected countries. Here I will show a bigger picture for some Euro Zone countries: the growth or decline of the economy since 2007. As you might have expected the German economy has grown the most since 2007, although it also saw one of the biggest declines during the credit crisis. Italy saw the lowest growth of the big four in the Euro Zone, while France fared slightly better than the Euro Zone average and Spain is doing slightly worse since the credit crisis.

Reuters

Economist Poll of Forecasters (July 2012) for 2012, 2013

This graph shows the average forecast for economic data (2012 & 2013) of the main economies in the world. Except for Australia and Japan all the average real GDP growth figures in July have been lowered since June. Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the Euro Area are expected to have a minus growth for 2012. For 2013 only Italy and Spain are expected to see it's economy contract. Italy's inflation rate is expected to stay relatively high though, while Japan and Switzerland keep having low inflation rates. Spain is expected to see it's current account deficit shrink more and more.

Due to a request by the Economist this graph has been removed. 

View the graph here

Global PMI: Euro Zone Down, U.S. Up

The PMI stands for Purchasers Managers Index. The research firm Markit surveys managers of private companies and asks questions about five different topics. These topics are New orders, Output, Employment, Suppliers' delivery times and Stocks of purchases. When the index is at 50 there is no change. Anything below 50 means a decline in activity; similarly above 50 means an increase. This picture shows the data for April 2012. The PMI of the Euro Zone is declining more and more. Especially Greece, Spain and Italy are not doing well. Germany and France have joined them in recent months.

EU Economic & Political Overview

This graph shows per country first the forecasted GDP-growth for 2012, second the unemployment and last the government election date.

Business Insider

12 Euro Zone Countries in Recession (May 2012)

This graph from Reuters shows on the left side the quarterly economic growth in the Euro Zone. The economic block just entered it's second recession in three years. On the right it shows that already 12 countries in the EU are in recession: Spain, Belgium, Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.


Click on the source for an interactive view per country.

Reuters

2012 Forecast: Double Dip Recession in Euro Zone

The European Commission released its latest forecast for the change in yearly GDP for the countries in the European Union. Compared to the current forecast for the growth of 2011 (no definite figures yet), all countries except for two, are expected to grow (or contract) at a lower rate in 2012. Ironically Greece is among the two countries that is expected to do better this year, than last year. Although it's still the country with the highest expected contraction in the EU.

The Euro Zone as a whole is expected to contract by 0,3%, while for the European Union a zero percent 'growth' is expected.

Reuters

Economies of UK, US and EZ since Pre-Crisis Peak

In this graph from Markit you can see how the economies of the Untied States, the Euro Zone and the United Kingdom have performed since their pre-crisis peak. As you can see only the United States has reached its pre-crisis peak (2007, 4th quarter), 15 quarters after the crisis started. The Eurzone and the U.K. had their peak in the first quarter of 2008. The Eurozone is well on its way with currently only two percent below its pre-crisis peak. The United Kingdom is still relatively far away.

Activity of Purchasers Managers Declines in most of EU (Nov 2011)

The PMI stands for Purchasers Managers Index. The research firm Markit surveys managers of private companies and asks questions about five different topics. These topics are New orders, Output, Employment, Suppliers' delivery times and Stocks of purchases. When the index is at 50 there is no change. Anything below 50 means a decline in activity; similarly above 50 means an increase. This picture shows the data for November 2011.

Pictured: Sweden Versus the Euro Zone

This graph from Reuters compares the economy of Sweden with the economy of the Euro Zone as a whole. As you can see Sweden had a bigger economic downturn but grew faster since. Government debt and deficit are remarkably lower in Sweden compared to the Euro Zone.

Euro Zone GDP Growth

This graph from Scott Barber at Reuters compared the GDP (with the year 2001 as 100) growth over the last ten year in the Euro Zone and the United States. Ireland grew the most at this point compared to ten years ago, while the Irish economy did contract quite a lot after the high of 2007. Italy is the country with the lowest growth compared to ten years ago.

Euro Zone Second Quarter Economic Growth

This graph shows the economic growth of European Countries in the second quarter of 2011. In France the economy didn't grow or contract compared to the first quarter. Poland had a high growth percentage of 1 percent. Average Euro Area economic growth was 0,2 percent. The growth figures for the PIIGS countries are not available yet.