Economic and financial indicators.

The article provides charts, graphs, and an overview of economic and financial indicators. America ran a record current-account deficit of $805 billion in 2005, up from $668 billion in 2004; as a share of GDP the deficit rose to 6.4% from 5.7%. In Japan, GDP growth in the fourth quarter was revised down slightly to an annual rate of 5.4%. The economy grew by 2.7% in 2005. Hopes of a strong upturn in Germany later this year may have been exaggerated, according to the ZEW index, which measures financial analysts' business expectations six months ahead. Italy's hard-pressed industrial sector got off to a disappointing start in 2006. Production fell by 0.3% in January compared with December 2005. The British labour market weakened again. Claimant unemployment rose by 14,600 in February--the biggest monthly rise since December 1992. To maintain its enviable growth rate, Ireland will have to find more workers from somewhere: immigrants, older people or women. But its infrastructure must also catch up with the big gains in population it has already enjoyed.