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In May, the general level of consumer price index dropped 1.4 percent year-on-year. Of which, urban and rural area was down by 1.5 and 1.0 percent respectively; the price of foodstuff, non-foodstuff, consumable and services descended 0.6, 1.7, 1.4 and 1.3 percent respectively. The general level of CPI decreased 0.3 percent month-on-month; the price of foodstuff was down by 0.6 percent, of the total, fresh vegetable was dropping by 7.1 percent, while that of fresh egg surged 2.0 percent.

In May, producer price index (PPI) for manufactured goods was down by 7.2 percent year-on-year; purchasing prices for raw material, fuels and power fell 10.4 percent.

Fitch Ratings says that, despite a forecast of return to profitability in the current financial year ending March 2010, major Japanese banks could continue to face pressure on their capitalisation and ratings.

While the economic slump has driven several companies to resort to strategic budget and cost-cutting initiatives, healthcare organizations are increasing their spending on healthcare information technology (IT) solutions and services to enhance healthcare delivery quality while addressing the issue of mounting healthcare costs.

Industrial profits in 22 regions realized 487.3 billion yuan from January to April, declined 27.9 percent year-on-year, narrowed 4.3 percentage points over first quarter.

Fitch Ratings has said, in a new comment to be published shortly, that the annual results to end-March 2009 (FYE09) of Japan's three "mega" banking groups - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Mizuho Financial Group (Mizuho), and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group - were the worst since FYE03 when Japan was mired in its own home-grown financial crisis.

The Asia-Pacific region leads the world in mobile marketing and advertising, and accelerating growth will see nearly $7.7 billion (and more than $16 billion globally) spent there in 2011.

National employment at year-end stood at 774.80 million persons, went up 4.90 million persons year-on-year. Of the total, the employment in primary industry reached 306.54 million persons, occupied 39.6 percent of national employment; that of secondary industry amounted for 211.09 million persons, accounted for 27.2 percent; that of tertiary industry totaled 257.17 million persons, took up 33.2 percent.

Fitch Ratings said that Korea's banks will continue to face challenges to their profitability due to higher than usual credit costs sustained through a slowdown in the domestic economy amid the global downturn, albeit tempered by the Korean government's wide-ranging fiscal stimulus efforts. Nevertheless, the capitalisation of the banks remains satisfactory, which should continue, as aided by government support if necessary. Both foreign and local currency liquidity for the banks have also eased amidst central bank support and are in line with general liquidity trends globally - although liquidity to the real economy is likely to remain tight for some time to come, which could compound credit costs to an extent.

Despite the global economic slowdown, most China home entertainment product suppliers expect sales to grow this year, according to Global Sources' China Sourcing Report: Home Entertainment.