Thai economy shrinks 10.7% on flood impact

The situation is significantly worse than the mood. But the eurozone crisis is far from over. It’s wishful thinking to expect otherwise WIESBADEN, Germany — The German economy was hit hard by the eurozone crisis in the final quarter of last year, shrinking more than at any point in nearly three years as traditionally strong exports and investment slowed, the Statistics Office said on Tuesday.

The Japanese economy shrank an amazing 12.7% in the fourth quarter of 2008. for comparison, the US economy fell by 3.8% in the quarter. Japan Economy Shrinks 12.7%, Steepest Drop Since 1974 Oil Shock

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy barely grew in the fourth quarter although a slightly better performance in exports and fewer imports led the government to scratch an earlier estimate that showed an economic contraction. Gross domestic product expanded at a 0.1% annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Thursday, missing the 0.5% gain forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll. The growth rate was the slowest since the first quarter of 2011 and far from what is needed to fuel a faster drop in the unemployment rate.

Thailand's economy posted double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2012, rebounding sharply from the fallout of last year's devastating floods, latest official data showed.Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 11 percent in January-March from the previous quarter, when the economy had contracted 10.8 percent, according to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).GDP rose 0.3 percent compared with the same period in 2011.

Japan's 4th Quarter GDP Unexpectedly Contracts at 2.3% Annualized Rate The Financial Times reports Japan’s GDP shrinks in fourth quarterFebruary 13, 2012 Japan’s economy shrank for the third time in four quarters between October and December, after floods in Thailand damaged production, and a strong yen and subdued overseas demand hurt exports.

The economy of crisis-hit Greece shrank by 2.5 percent, slightly better than an earlier estimate, in the last three months of 2009 compared to output in the fourth quarter of 2008, official data showed on Friday.The 12-month figure figure was a slight improvement on the agency's previous forecast of a 2.6-percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2009.On a quarterly basis, the country's gross domestic product was down 0.8 percent in the last quarter of 2009 compared to output in the third quarter, the Esye national statistics institute said.

Inquiring minds investigating the collapse in Europe note Euro-Zone Industrial Production Declines Steeply Industrial production in the 17 countries that use the euro fell sharply in September as weak output across both the core and peripheral economies added to expectations for a poor third quarter gross domestic product print Thursday.