In China, with signs of overheating, especially in fixed asset investment, economic growth and inflation may exceed expectations. Meanwhile, given the currently elevated prices of crude oil and grains such as wheat and soybeans, possible shifts in international commodity prices may also influence the outlook for the global economy and the price situation.
In global financial markets, disruptions due to subprime mortgage problems have continued to be observed. In the United States and Europe, the functioning of markets for securitized products has deteriorated significantly, while money markets are still in the process of recuperating. Stock prices and foreign exchange rates have been unstable across the world.