The six-month smoothed growth rate of the Coincident Index (CI) increased slightly to reach 0.7% in March 2007. The positive change of 0.4% also shown by the index from 120.5 to 121.0 points. Index of industrial production (0.5%), contribution in EPF (0.1%) and gross imports (0.1%) contributed positively to the index.
The Leading Index (LI) six-month smoothed growth rate maintained moderate level to reach 6.2% in March 2007. Positive contributions recorded by ratio of prices to the unit labour cost (0.8%), number of housing permits approved (0.7%), Bursa Malaysia industrial index (0.3%), CPI for services (0.1%) and number of new companies registered (0.1%). The LI rose by 1.1% to register 149.1 points in the current month.
The Lagging Index (LGI) grew 3.0% in March 2007. Positive increases were registered by real excess lending to the private sector (2.9%), number of EPF defaulters (0.3%) and 7-day call money, rate (0.1%). The index’s six-month smoothed growth rate rebounded from -15.6% to -9.6%.
The growth rate of the LI advanced from 5.0% to 6.2% in March 2007. This scenario suggests that Malaysian economy will continue with favourable growth momentum in the third quarter of 2007. |
