Search

The section presents news briefs and charted data showing economic and financial indicators for a list of 15 developed countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, the Euro area and individual European countries, plus closer looks at the Economist's poll of economic forecasters, and trade volumes. Consumer confidence in America suffered a surprise blow. American economic growth in the second quarter was revised up for the second time. The European Commission's euro-area economic-sentiment index rose in September to its highest level this year. Australia's industrial production grew by 1.3% in the year to the second quarter. Britain's GDP grew by twice as much as originally estimated in the second quarter.

Examines the lack of Canadian dominance in ice hockey, a sport developed in that country. Forecasts concerning the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan; Wayne Gretzky and Paul Kariya, Canada's top players; The rise of Russian hockey; Fraud and sex-abuse scandals plaguing the sport in Canada; How play has changed and lost its audience; Statistics for percentage of audience lost for televised games; Ranking of Canadian teams in the National Hockey League.