Year over year growth - Gulf News

Per capita income in 2004: "Per capita income in the UAE has risen above Dh91,000 for the first time, said Abdullah Sultan, secretary-general of the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry."

Per capita income in 2003: "UAE per capita income in 2003 was approximately Dh81,000."

GDP growth and inflation: "Sultan told delegates at a UAE-German Economic Forum in the German city of Essen that the UAE's GDP last year exceeded Dh340 billion, a 4.7 per cent jump on 2003, while inflation stabilised at 4.5 per cent."

Remark: I was not aware that the UAE measured and reported inflation.

Population: "The country's population rose to 4.32 million from 4.04 millon in 2003."

Remark: For readers surprised by a population growth rate of 16% note that most of that growth is immigration of foreign workers and their families. Or some families: the male to female ratio is about 2:1.

Cement prices stabilise after big rise last year: "They are now down 15 per cent from those six months ago, Lootah said during the launch of the group's latest ready-mix concrete batching plant in Jebel Ali industrial area here....Cement prices in the UAE leapt 200 per cent in May last year due to an upsurge in demand and a shortfall in supply, causing a crisis in the construction sector."

Regional construction sector rides oil prices