On The Numbers Archives

Asia’s economic woes continue to unravel as sale of nonalcoholic beverages experienced a slowdown last year and will continue to slow on into 2009. But major players in the nonalcoholic beverage industry remain undeterred in the face of faltering numbers.

In the face of a massive world economic hiccup and terrorist attacks on its capital city, India still chose 2009 as a banner year for tourism. According to India's National Tourism Advisory Council, 2009 is now "Visit India Year." Tourists, however, remain unconvinced.

China, the world’s top holder of foreign-exchange reserves, is now experiencing its first decline in holdings after maintaining over a five year high. But the drop in reserves should not reflect China’s trade industry.

The U.S. dollar last week appeared mercifully to end its plunge. World markets cheered, and the immediate financial crisis in the U.S. abated. But this week the dollar is retesting all-time lows versus the euro and yen, and commodity prices, capital flows, and trade remain vulnerable to its movements. Inflation in dollar-linked China is rising fast, and an over-strong yen could thwart Japan's recent recovery after its painful 1990s deflation. In the U.S., currency swings are destabilizing the economy and fueling anti-trade populism. After a decade of wild instability, it's time to rethink global currency markets and monetary policies.

Over the past few months we have followed the turmoil in Pakistan closely. In the mad dash to come out with analysis after the election, Gallup Pakistan is leading the pack with a set of polls that are giving a world of insight into the way Pakistanis are thinking about the election.