In Canada, Ivey Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Monthly Survey to rate the business conditions including employment, production, new orders, prices, supplier deliveries, and inventories reduce to 58.6 from 63.5 on the last month and indicates industry expansion.

Last week new housing approvals jumped 2.1% in December rising 13% in from a year earlier; however 2011 has been a bad year for the housing sector being the worst year for building since records started in 1965. Will we see an improvement during 2012?

In the US, Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI); monthly managers in Chicago survey to value the business conditions for employment, new orders etc. is due to reduce down to 59.2 points from 60.4 points.

Last week inflation figures disappointed with 0.4% rise while 0.7% increase was predicted and New Zealand Business Confidence index dropped to 26.1 from35.4 in September. These lukewarm readings left no hope for and RBNZ rate hike. However the hopeful note of the EU summit could have a positive influence in NZ economy.

In the US, The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Survey (around 400 managers) to value the business conditions over the passing month, about to reduce by 0.3 points from last month to 55 points. And the ISM Manufacturing Prices is due to further reduce to 64.4 points.

Last week NZ business confidence increased for the 4^th straight month to 47.6 amid improvement in the housing investment and employment sectors indicating a stronger economy and the RBNZ maintained rates at 2.50% in line with expectations.

Last week New Zealand’s central bank maintained its benchmark rates announcing they will continue doing so to help recovery following the devastating Christchurch earthquake until next year. The economy is suffering from growing oil prices and high currency freezing market activity.

Prime Minister John Key considers selling $10 billion of key assets including state owned power companies and a stake in Air New Zealand in order to pay down Government debt a year earlier. The Government would consider Treasury’s advice and make its plans clear well before the election. The partial sales would have to provide good opportunities for investors, the freed-up capital would be used to fund new public assets and they would have to be satisfied that industry-specific regulations would protect consumers.

In the US, Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Survey of purchasing managers in Chicago to rate the relative level of business conditions, indicates expansion with 65.5 points.

In the US, The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Monthly Survey of about 400 purchasing managers to rate the relative level of business conditions, indicates industry expansion although its reduction of 0.2 points. While the ISM Manufacturing Prices will rise by 0.2 points,