Chemical Information

S & P / Case-Shiller home price index showed house prices index in the first quarter fell 19.1 percent, indicating that reduced short-term price decline. However, the same day The Conference Board (Conference Board) issued in May consumer confidence index rebounded sharply.

     The first quarter of S & P / Case-Shiller U.S. house price index dropped 19.1 percent over the same period the previous year, hitting the target 21-year history of the biggest quarterly decline.

     20 major cities in the United States, the March 15 city house prices drop over the same period more than 10%, of which the sun Strip (Sun Belt) price drop is still the most significant. From the United States in terms of housing price level in March and when the fourth quarter of 2002 is similar.

     Data show that 10 major cities in the United States in March over the same period prices fell 18.6 percent, representing a 2.1 percent decline in February. 20 major cities in the United States in March over the same period prices fell 18.7 percent, representing a 2.2 percent decline in February.

     Pick-up in consumer confidence

     The Conference Board report released the same day, May consumer confidence index rose sharply, especially for the next 6 months the economy is expected to have greatly improved.

     The report said the consumer confidence index in May to 54.9; in April to 40.8, the initial value of 39.2. May data is much higher than the previous Dow Jones Newswires (Dow Jones Newswires) investigation of the 43.0 expected by economists.

     The index is now in September 2008 the highest level since. 
    

     According to the report showed that despite the problem of the automotive industry still exists, but 5.5% of consumers plan to buy a car the next 6 months, higher than April's 4.9 percent, also higher than March's 4.0%.

     The slight improvement in employment prospects. May the work that the increase in the proportion of respondents rose to 20.0%, 14.2% for April. That work to reduce the proportion of respondents in April from 32.5% to 25.2%.