Economic and financial indicators

摘要

America's gdp shrank at an annualised rate of 6.1% in the first quarter. This was worse than expected, though the pace of decline slowed slightly from the previous quarter's 6.3% plunge. Consumer confidence shot up to 39.2 in Aprilfrom 26.9 in March, according to theindex published by the Conference Board, a business-research firm. Japan's industrial production rose by 1.6% in the month of March, compared with a fall of 9.4% in February. The rise, the first in six months and twice what had been forecast, is a sign that large cuts in inventories may now have run their course.