Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/24
By: Tien Yu-pin and Frances Huang

Taipei, March 24 (CNA) Sentiment toward Taiwan’s economy showed signs of weakening in March on expectations that rising inflation will compromise private consumption, according a survey released by Cathay Financial Holding Co.

The caution also reflected the composite index of monitoring indicators flashing a “yellow-blue” light — signaling sluggish growth — in January for a second consecutive month, Cathay Financial said.

Affected by the lower composite index and worries over higher inflation, 41.8 percent of respondents said the economy will get worse over the next six months, compared with only 24.2 percent who said it will get better, the survey showed.

That sent the economic optimism index for March falling to minus 17.6 (reflecting the difference between pessimistic and optimistic respondents), down from minus 8.6 in February, Cathay Financial said.    [FULL  STORY]