The Monthly Bulletin of Statistics presents current economic and social statistics for more than 200 countries and territories of the world. It contains over 50 tables of monthly and/or annual and quarterly data on a variety of subjects illustrating important economic trends and developments, including population, prices, employment and earnings, energy, manufacturing, transport, construction, international merchandise trade and finance.
Vol. LXV – No. 6, June 2011
This month, the following tables, which are featured in the MBS on a quarterly or bimonthly basis, are presented along with the regular recurrent monthly tables: Retail price indices relating to living expenditures of United Nations officials; Earnings in non-agricultural activities, by sex; Fuel imports, developed economies: unit value and volume indices; value; Indicators on fuel imports, developed economies; Registration of new motor vehicles; External trade conversion factors; Manufactured goods exports: unit value indices, volume indices and value; and Selected series of world statistics.
For more information: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mbs
Population and Vital Statistics
The Population and Vital Statistics Report, Series A, Vol. LXIII, contains the data available to the Statistics Division of DESA as of 1 January 2011. This publication includes data for countries or areas on population size (total, male, and female) from the latest available census, and the number and rate of vital events (live births, deaths, and infant deaths) for the latest available year.
These data are presented as reported by national statistical authorities to the Demographic Yearbook of the Statistics Division of DESA. In addition, this publication includes the estimated mid-year population by major area and region for years 2008 and 2009, prepared by the Population Division of DESA and presented in World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision.
For more information: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/vitstats/default.htm
National Accounts Statistics: Analysis of Main Aggregates, 2009, Parts I, II, III, IV and V
This publication contains in the form of analytical tables a summary of the principal national accounting aggregates based on official national accounts data for more than 200 countries and areas of the world for the years 1970 to 2009. It also contains a section on the estimation methods used for compiling the data. It is prepared by the Statistics Division of the Department for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat with the generous co-operation of national statistical offices and serves as a valuable source of information on the economic situation of countries and areas.
The tables of the publication include analysis of data on gross domestic product (GDP) by different structural components. The types of analysis presented are classified into the four major categories listed below:
- Analysis of the level of total and per capita GDP
- Analysis of the percentage shares of GDP by type of expenditure and gross value added by kind of economic activity
- Analysis of economic development expressed in term of real growth of GDP and its components by type of expenditure and gross value added by kind of economic activity
- Analysis of price development reflected by implicit price deflators of GDP
The time-series data can also be downloaded via the following links: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/snaama/selQuick.asp
http://data.un.org/Explorer.aspx?d=SNAAMA
2009 International Trade Statistics Yearbook, Vol.I
The 2009 International Trade Statistics Yearbook, Volume I – Trade by Country provides an overview of the international merchandise trade in 2009 and detailed information on the trade performance for numerous countries up to the year 2009. Overall, data for a total of 174 countries (or areas) are shown with the 2009 detailed data on imports and exports by commodity and trading partner provided for 88 countries (areas), representing approximately 70% of world trade of 2009.
Beginning with the 2008 edition the International Trade Statistics Yearbook is published in a redesigned format in respect to the presentation of data for individual countries (Volume I) as well as trade in a particular commodity (Volume II). The goal is to provide a more analytical and condensed view of trade by using graphs, overview tables and descriptive text. For more detailed data users are requested to go directly to UN Comtrade (see link below) which is the source of the information presented in the yearbook and which is continuously updated. The 2009 ITSY, Volume II – Trade by commodity will be, as previously, completed by end of December as more complete data is required for showing detailed information of trade by commodity
For more information: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
UN Comtrade: http://comtrade.un.org/db/default.aspx
Discussion papers
Monthly Briefing on the World Economic Situation and Prospects
The July issue highlights that the prospects for continued global economic recovery are at risk amidst concerns over sovereign debt sustainability in Europe and the United States, and the negative consequences that possible defaults could inflict on global demand and financial stability.
The briefing also reports that oil and other primary commodity prices remain elevated, keeping up headline inflation, particularly in developing economies. It further notes that growth is beginning to moderate in some developing regions which had experienced robust performance in 2010 on the back of internal efforts to contain inflationary pressures and a receding global demand.
For more information: http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/index.shtml
Working papers
Macroeconomic Policy for Growth and Poverty Reduction: An Application to Post-Conflict and Resource-Rich Countries
A fundamental shift in macroeconomic policy thinking is taking place. This shift opens a space for implementing policies that promote growth and reduce poverty in developing countries. In this paper, policies for post-conflict and resource-rich economies are outlined. Fiscal policy would focus on revenue mobilization, scaling-up public investment, and preventing over-heating. Monetary policies would revive the financial sector, prevent inflationary pressures and stimulate private sector investment. Exchange rate policies should focus on achieving slow depreciation and maintaining international competitiveness. These policies should not be considered in isolation from each other, but in coordination.
For more information: http://www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2011/wp108_2011.pdf
Outreach material
Rio+20: Making it Happen
The latest issue of the newsletter highlights the link between education and sustainable development and it also features the Rio+20 Bureau meeting with the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs that took place on 7 July. It also draws attention to a Brief related to the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development on “Lessons from the Peer Review Mechanism” and to the Pacific region’s Rio+20 preparatory meeting that was held on 22 July in Samoa.
View full issue at: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=40
United Nations Youth Flash
The newsletter is a service of the United Nations Programme on Youth to keep the public informed about the work of the UN on youth issues. It is prepared with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, and from youth organisations around the world.
For more information: http://social.un.org/index/Youth/Youthflash.aspx
United Nations Enable Newsletter
The June issue is now available online. ENABLE Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) at DSPD/DESA, with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, and civil society.
For more information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?PID=312
Worldwide launch of “UN Innovations in Public Governance” App
The UN’s latest mobile application and DESA’s first, “UN Innovations in Public Governance”, was launched on 23 June at the UN Public Service Awards Ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, published by the Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) with UN Publications.
The free application, available worldwide for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, lets users easily explore the entire archive of 145 UN Public Service Awards-Winning Initiatives — including the just-announced 2011 winners — filtering by Subject, Category, Region, Country and Year, and learn about each initiative from content that is optimized for a mobile platform. The case studies describe innovative practices by describing the problem that led to an innovation; the solution that was designed and implemented; the actors and steps involved in the innovation process; and lessons learned. The app is an inspirational and powerful tool to understand how public institutions around the world solve difficult governance challenges.
Together with the app, UN Publications and DPADM are publishing DPADM’s eBook Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011. This project is the third collaboration between UN Publications and DPADM since September, following the publication of the United Nations E-Government Survey 2010 and the United Nations Contribution to the Improvement of Public Administration – A 60-Year History. The eBooks are available on multiple platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony eReader, and Apple iPhone and iPad.
To download the app for free:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/un-innovations-in-public-governance/id443218537?mt=8#
Publications in other languages:
The following publications are now available in other languages:
- Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008, ST/ESA/STAT/SER.F/80/Rev.1 (Arabic)
- International Recommendations for Industrial Statistics 2008, ST/ESA/STAT/SER.M/90 (Spanish, Arabic)
Websites
Update of the MDG website
The MDG website has been updated and now includes the latest annual Millennium Development Goals Report 2011. The report, which presents the yearly assessment of global progress towards the MDGs, shows that although significant strides have been made, reaching all the MDGs by 2015 remains challenging because progress has failed to reach the most vulnerable.
For more information: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/Static/Products/Progress2011/11-31339 (E) MDG Report 2011_Book LR.pdf
Press materials: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/news.shtml
MDG Progress Chart 2011
Most of the targets included in the Millennium Development Goals framework are to be achieved by 2015 – promising clear and measurable improvements from standards prevailing in 1990. The MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators. The MDG Progress Chart 2011 presents an assessment of progress as of June 2011 towards selected key targets relating to each Goal.
