Quick Overview

• The U.S. unemployment rate rose from 5.0 to 5.5 % in May.
  
  

• Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 6.1% in May
  

• Germany’s industrial production fell 0.8% in April.
  

• World wheat production in 2008-09 will rise 8.3% YoY to 652 million metric tons, according to F.O. Licht.
  
  

• ASF delegates attending the 17th Asian Ship owners’ Forum (ASF) in Boao, China earlier this month have expressed "grave concern" that current container freight rates remained "insufficient," to cover the dramatic cost increases triggered by the high price of fuel and port congestion.