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Singapore's Patent Stock Is Shrinking Even as Applications Climb
Singapore's private sector shed nearly 1,900 active patents in 2022, lowering the total to 14,810, while new applications climbed to a fresh record of 4,107.
Why Japan's Cities Keep Adding Green Space as Population Shrinks
City green zones in Japan expanded from just 336.6 hectares in 1975 to 17,324 ha in 2023, an increase of more than 50 times, even as the national population declined.
China Records Seven Times More US Trade Than America Does
In 2022, China’s bilateral trade with the U.S. hit $7,608 billion—while America’s tally peaked at $2,545 billion a year earlier, leaving a $5 trillion gap in reported flows.
Bangka Belitung Consumers Are Buying More but Plan to Buy Less
In 2018, Bangka Belitung's household consumption volume index hit 136.36, but plans to purchase goods slumped to 80.53—a gap that raises questions about long-term confidence.
Singapore’s Restaurants Are Still Stuck. Fast Food Isn’t.
Five years after COVID, Singapore’s restaurant volumes still lag their 2017 baseline, while fast-food outlets are trading 17% above it, according to index data through December 2025.
From Near-Zero to 18.4M: Japan's China-Taiwan Guest Rebound
After a pandemic low of 32,320 guest nights from China and Taiwan in 2021, Japan rebounded to a record 18.4 million in 2024, exceeding 2019 by 4.9 million.
China Now Builds 1 in 3 Cars. The Rest of the World Feels It.
In 2000, China made 2 million vehicles, 3.5% of the global total. By 2025, it was 32.5 million — one in every three cars produced.
Lampung’s Gender Empowerment Index: A Postcode Lottery
Bandar Lampung tops the province at 74.27, but just 150 km north in Lampung Utara, the score plunges to 59.15, exposing a stark urban-rural divide in 2024 data.
