The Capgemini Consulting Global Trade Index tracks trade by quarter, based on the latest available official data from national agencies. The figures from this second edition reveal growth of 8.5 percent in worldwide trade (the import and export of goods and services worldwide) in Q4 2009, following near-identical growth levels in Q3 2009.
This points to a similar level of growth of this leading indicator for world economic health into 2010, still driven by increasing domestic consumption levels to compensate for less Government stimulus.
The Index, which is published every three months, assesses the developments in global trade and relative position of the 23 countries playing the biggest role in the global trade arena.