Emerging-market indicators.

The article provides data on economic conditions in developing countries as of June 11, 2005. Having suffered both a drought and a deluge, Thailand's economy contracted in the first quarter for the first time in four years. GDP fell by 0.6% in the quarter, but the economy was still 3.3% bigger than the year before. Taiwan's exports rose by only 4% in the year to May, after growing by 11.2% in the year to April. The government blamed weak global demand for technology products. In Malaysia, industrial production grew by 6.8% in the year to April. Inflation is regaining strength in Turkey. Consumer-price inflation rose to 8.7% in May, after slowing earlier this year. Venezuelans are more confident than most others that their personal fortunes will improve, according to NOP World, a market-research organization. It asked consumers in 30 countries whether they thought their economic situation would get better over the coming year, and whether now was a good time to spend money. The percentage of respondents answering yes determines a country's rank in the index. A score greater than one shows that the proportion of confident consumers in that country exceeds the world average.