EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• This article provides an update to Singapore’s growth cycle chronology and examines the performance
of Singapore’s Composite Leading Index (CLI). There were two growth cycles since 2004.
• The first cycle (peak-trough-peak) began in mid-2004, as economic growth moderated following the
exceptionally strong growth in the post-SARS period. The second cycle started in early 2008, led by
the US housing and financial crisis. The subsequent recovery that began in the second half of 2009
was short-lived, as growth momentum faded by mid-2010.
• Our empirical study shows that the CLI maintains its leading properties, and anticipates cyclical
INTRODUCTION
The study of business cycles has been of interest to analysts, economists, market participants and
policymakers. Today, composite leading indices are compiled in many countries to monitor economic
activity, and to anticipate economic upturns and downturns.
Singapore’s Composite Leading Index (CLI) was first developed after the 1985 economic recession. It
was subsequently reviewed in 1991. In 2004, Singapore’s growth cycle chronology and CLI were updated
to ensure their continuing relevance in identifying and anticipating Singapore’s growth cycle.1
Since then, the Singapore economy had undergone a period of growth moderation from 2004 to 2005
and more recently, an economic recession in 2008. The subsequent recovery in 2009 was short-lived;
preliminary assessment suggests that the growth momentum faded by mid-2010. This article provides
an update of Singapore’s growth chronology and examines the performance of Singapore’s CLI.
turning points in the economy.
Box 1: Classical Cycle, Growth Cycle and Growth Rate Cycle
In the business cycle literature, there are three types of cycles, namely the classical cycle (level
series), the growth cycle (deviation in trend) and the growth rate cycle (period-on-period growth).
The US National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and The Conference Board tend to focus on
the classical cycle, while the OECD’s system of composite leading indicators focuses on the growth
cycle. As Singapore’s economic activity has generally been on an upward trend, it is characterised
by growth cycles rather than classical cycles.
To help users understand the relationship between these three cycles, Anas and Ferrara (2002)
have introduced the ABCD approach.
In this approach, as shown in the charts below, and ǃ mark the peak and trough of the growth
rate cycle respectively (Exhibit 1). A and D are, respectively, the peak and trough of the growth cycle
(Exhibit 2), while B and C are, respectively, the peak and trough of the classical cycle (Exhibit 3).
The approach posits that a slowdown starts with a growth rate cycle peak (labelled Į in Exhibit 1).
If the slowdown gathers momentum, the growth rate will fall below the long-term growth rate,
leading to a peak in the growth cycle (labelled A in Exhibit 2). If the slowdown worsens further,
the growth rate becomes negative and a classical recession takes place (labelled B in Exhibit 1).
Similarly, an upturn will first start with a growth rate cycle trough (labelled ǃ in Exhibit 1). As
the upturn gathers pace, the growth rate turns positive and a classical cycle trough (labelled C in
Exhibit 3) is observed. Finally, if the upturn continues, the growth rate rises above the long-term
growth rate and the growth cycle troughs (labelled D in Exhibit 2).
SINGAPORE’S GROWTH CHRONOLOGY
Singapore’s growth chronology is based on the growth cycles identified from the Composite Coincident
Index (CCI) (see Box 1 for an illustration of the different types of business cycles). The CCI is an
aggregation of economic indicators (Exhibit 4) that shows coincident relationship with the growth cycles
of the economy