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ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Polymer Bank Notes of the World

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Chart 29 Contributions to quarterly realGDP growthChart 30 Confidence indicators(quarterly percentage point contributions; seasonally adjusted)1.51.00.50.0-0.5-1.0-1.5-2.0real GDP 1)final domestic demand 2)net exports2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007<strong>2008</strong>-0.5-1.0-1.5-2.0Sources: Eurostat and ECB calculations.1) Percentage change compared with <strong>the</strong> previous quarter.2) Defined as domestic demand excluding changes in inventories.consumption basket, and year-on-year growth inreal household disposable income fell to its lowestrate since 2003 (to around 0.7% on average in <strong>the</strong>first three quarters <strong>of</strong> <strong>2008</strong>). Households reactedcautiously, choosing to retrench spending ra<strong>the</strong>rthan to smooth consumption and reduce savings.While <strong>the</strong> recent cycle has generally beencharacterised by relatively subdued householdspending, <strong>the</strong> ongoing financial turmoil islikely to have been an additional factor behindhouseholds’ reluctance to spend. Large fallsin financial wealth as stock markets slumpedcaused households – ei<strong>the</strong>r because some <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> losses were perceived to be permanentor because uncertainty about <strong>the</strong> economicoutlook was heightened – to reduce expenditureand build up precautionary savings. Thedeteriorating outlook for <strong>the</strong> labour market alsocontributed to a decline in consumer sentiment.Consumer confidence indicators, which hadpeaked in mid-2007, fell to <strong>the</strong>ir long-termaverage levels in <strong>the</strong> early months <strong>of</strong> <strong>2008</strong>,sharply deteriorating fur<strong>the</strong>r to reach very lowlevels by <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year (see Chart 30).1.51.00.50.0(percentage balances; seasonally adjusted)151050-5-10-15-20-25-30-35-40consumer confidenceindustrial confidenceservices confidence2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 <strong>2008</strong>Source: European Commission Business and Consumer Surveys.Note: Data shown are calculated as deviations from <strong>the</strong> averageover <strong>the</strong> period since January 1985 for consumer and industrialconfidence, and since April 1995 for services confidence.Total investment growth declined sharply toaround 0.6% in <strong>2008</strong> following two years <strong>of</strong>elevated growth (5.8% in 2006 and 4.2% in2007), with quarter-on-quarter contractions in<strong>the</strong> last three quarters <strong>of</strong>fsetting <strong>the</strong> positivecarry-over effects from 2007 and a strong firstquarter that benefited from unusually goodwea<strong>the</strong>r (with <strong>the</strong> latter mechanically depressing<strong>the</strong> figures for <strong>the</strong> second quarter). Thisdeceleration was more marked for residentialinvestment than for o<strong>the</strong>r private investment.Indeed, housing investment contracted in <strong>2008</strong>,following <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> expansionary phase<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> residential construction cycle in 2007 in<strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> slowing house price growth. Thedeceleration was generally more pronounced incountries that had experienced very fast growthin previous years. The Eurosystem’s banklending survey also indicated a considerabledrop in demand for loans for house purchasesince <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> financial turmoil insummer 2007, reflecting <strong>the</strong> downturn in <strong>the</strong>housing market. At <strong>the</strong> same time, <strong>the</strong>re was asubstantial tightening in credit conditions.151050-5-10-15-20-25-30-35-4064 ECBAnnual Report<strong>2008</strong>

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