Michigan Economy up Slightly in August, Reports Comerica Bank's Michigan Economic Activity Index

DALLAS, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank's Michigan Economic Activity Index ticked up one point in August, to a level of 87.  The August index level is 16 points, or 23 percent, above the index cyclical low of 71.  Year-to-date the index has averaged 87 points, two points above the average for all of 2010.

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"The Michigan economy has held on to the gains generated by the restructuring automotive industry," said Robert Dye, Chief Economist at Comerica Bank. "Auto sales firmed up in September to a 13 million unit pace nationwide. That helps to support recent increases to auto production as U.S. automakers move past the supply-chain bottlenecks that followed the Japan earthquake. Auto sales are expected to increase through 2012, but impaired consumer confidence and tepid job creation will keep sales gains confined to the weak-to-moderate range. Construction activity in Michigan is likely to remain soft and will be a leveling factor on the Michigan Economic Activity Index for some time to come. The ongoing crisis in the euro-zone does add downside risk to the global macroeconomic outlook."

The Michigan Economic Activity Index equally weighs nine, seasonally-adjusted coincident indicators of real economic activity.  These indicators reflect activity in the construction, manufacturing and service sectors as well as job growth and consumer outlays.  A complete Index history is available upon request.

Comerica Bank is the commercial banking subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Michigan and Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, and Florida, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

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SOURCE Comerica Bank

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