International Business : The APEC Economies

As a group, the economies of the 15 nations in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation have grown faster than the rest of the world. However, within the group, nations usually identified with the West --Australia, the United States and Canada-- havefared among the worst.

Country GDP in billions Growth rate Australia $288.9 -2.6% Brunei $6.5 +4.4% Canada $568.7 -3.4% China $434.1 +17.0% Hong Kong $92.8 +14.1% Indonesia $123.2 +5.8% Japan $3,671.0 +9.7% South Korea $296.8 +4.6% Malaysia $50.4 +8.0% New Zealand $42.6 +0.5% Phlippines $52.6 +16.2% Singapore $46.0 +14.5% Taiwan $206.8 +17.9% Thailand $106.3 +15.9% United States $5,950.7 +4.8%

Source: International Business Communications/USA Researched by ADAM S. BAUMAN AND JANET LUNDBLAD / Los Angeles Times