AMERICAS: Market liberalisation drives Latin American premium growth
Total insurance premium income is growing at a faster rate than the economy as a whole in Latin America. One of the reasons suggested for this dynamism is market liberalisation and consequent growth in competition from subsidiaries of overseas companies. For example the market share by premium of foreign controlled insurance companies in Mexico grew from 0% to over 50% between 1993 and early 2005.
ASIA: Asia Pacific demand set to dominate aircraft market
Boeing have predicted that whilst global GDP growth will average 3.9% over the next 20 years, demand for air passenger and freight traffic will rise by 4.9% and 6.1% respectively. Passenger traffic within the Asia-Pacific region (excluding the domestic market in China) is estimated to rise by 5.4% and the figure for China itself is 8.8%. The region is forecast to represent 36% of the implied demand for 27,200 new passenger aircraft by the year 2025.
EUROPE: Traditional eating habits aid the French in war against obesity
French eating habits, which have changed far less than is the case in the UK or USA, are still very closely linked to their national heritage of eating good food for pleasure. About 75% still eat meals prepared at home, virtually the same percentage of families eat their meals together around the table. Portion sizes are smaller and snacking is far less prevalent. The resultant balanced diet may help explain why obesity is less of a problem than in the Anglo-Saxon nations.
The French and Germans are also consuming less alcohol whereas the figure for the UK continues to rise.
