SHAKY CONFIDENCE: Consumer confidence is also weak this month, amid concern over inflation, employment opportunities and investment outlook, a poll showed

Taipei Times
Date: May 28, 2016
By: Crystal Hsu / Staff reporter

The government’s business monitoring system edged up to flash “yellow-blue” last month, after flashing “blue” for 10 consecutive months, aided by better imports of machinery and electrical equipment, but the improvement might not last amid a stalling global economy, the National Development Council (NDC) said yesterday.

“The yellow-blue light was an indication that the economy is changing gears, but it is hard to say whether it would turn better or worse,” council research director Wu Ming-huei (吳明蕙) said at a press conference.

Wu cited as an example leading indicators, which resumed a mild downturn last month after holding steady one month earlier, suggesting continued economic weakness.

The total score for the council’s business indicators rose to 17 last month, just one point above the recessionary “blue” zone, the council’s
report showed.     [FULL  STORY]