Predictions has been published since 2001. Back in 2009 and 2010, we wrote about the launch of exciting new fourth-generation wireless networks called 4G (aka LTE). A decade later, we’re now making predictions about 5G networks that will be launching this year. Not surprisingly, our forecast for the first year of 5G is that it will look a lot like the first year of 4G in terms of units, revenues, and rollout. But while the forecast may look familiar, the high data speeds and low latency 5G provides could spur the evolution of mobility, health care, manufacturing, and nearly every industry that relies on connectivity. In previous reports, we also wrote about 3D printing (aka additive manufacturing). Our tone was positive but cautious, since 3D printing was growing but also a bit overhyped. But time has passed. Reality has caught up to—or in some ways even surpassed—the earlier enthusiasm, and we now have new and impressive forecasts for that industry. We also wrote about eSports, which has evolved from a cult phenomenon to simply “phenomenon,” with big implications for media companies and advertisers.

In line with its anticipated trajectory, the annual CPI inflation rate saw a steeper downward path in the last quarter of 2018. The indicator went down to 3.4 percent in November and subsequently decelerated to 3.3 percent in December, thus moving deeper into the band associated with the flat target of 2.5 percent ±1 percentage point. Both in November and December, the actual annual inflation rates were below the benchmark projection set out in the November 2018 Inflation Report, reflecting primarily supply-side shocks associated with falling international oil prices, as well as with the decline in citrus prices amid the bumper crop at a European level. The downward trend of the annual inflation rate in Q4 was driven by developments in all consumer basket components, including those in the adjusted CORE2 index, whose dynamics came in at 2.5 percent in December 2018, decelerating from 2.8 percent in September. At the same time, however, the average annual CPI inflation rate continued to rise from 4.5 percent in September to 4.6 percent in December. The average annual HICP inflation rate followed a similar path, adding 0.3 percentage points from 3.8 percent in September to 4.1 percent in December. The differential versus the EU average remained high, i.e. above 2 percentage points.

Buildings are responsible for up to 24% of greenhouse gas emissions and account for over 40% of the world’s total primary electricity use. These numbers are increasing YOY, due to the rising world population and improving living standards. The global landscape is likely to be confronted with an energy shortage in the future, and unfavorable climate changes are quite evident. It has been established with sufficient evidence that the present energy generation system is not sustainable. There is a need to shift to renewable sources such as solar energy for clean and sustainable energy.

The global demand for radiant or electric cooktops has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Radiant cooktops are the smallest segment in the global cooktops market. Globally, the type of cooktops available is mainly gas cooktops, radiant cooktops, and induction stoves. Hybrid cooktops, which have a combination of features of electric and gas cooktops, is another type of cooktops that are fast gaining popularity in recent years.

The global economy in 2019 is expected to slow down with the slower growth rate due to the effects of the US-China trade war and signs of tightening monetary policy of the EU and the US. Goldman Sachs forecasts that global growth rate in 2019 will only reach 3.5%, lower than 3.8% compared to 2018. This war not only has a negative impact on world growth from the instability of key regions and economies, but also creates unpredictable fluctuations in the financial, monetary, and commodity markets. Thereby, this will hinder the flow of global investment and create a deep gap between economies. In the US, policy will continue to tighten, which is expected to two-time increase by 0.25% in interest rates in 2019. About Eurozone, ECB has started to narrow its balance sheet at the end of the year and would raise interest rates in the second half of 2019. China is also facing difficulties in operating economic policies in the context of trade war. In the United States, in 2019, the OECD forecasts that the US economy will grow by 2.7% (lower than the forecast of 2.9% -3.0% of 2018), the unemployment rate is expected to remain at 3.5% -3.7%, equivalent to 2018. Inflation has shown signs of increasing again with a forecast of about 2.2% for 2019, but still within the target of 2% of FED. While employment growth in the United States is slowing, consumer growth remains stable and is supported by a rise in wages when the labor market is getting tighter. Fiscal stimulus policies issued in 2017 and 2018 are still impacting on the economy but will weaken in 2019. Presently, President Trump continues to maintain a low oil price policy to reduce transportation and production costs to boost the growth of US domestic economy. We note that oil prices have a big impact on countries' inflation, the initial decline in oil prices and then stabilization will help the inflation index remain stable in the coming period.

Electrocardiograph (ECG) helps record the electrical activity of a heart by detecting tiny electrical signals in the heart while it pumps the blood throughout the body. ECG is largely used to determine the cause of palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fainting. Interpretation of ECG results also enables the doctors to evaluate the effect of medication on the heart further assisting in designing appropriate therapy for the patient. The revenues generated by the sale of ECG devices in South Korea are only considered in the scope of the report. Other cardiac rhythm management devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators are not considered in the scope of the report. The South Korea ECG market is segmented based on product, lead, and end user.

Global economic growth continued to cool in the fourth quarter of 2018, with aggregated growth hitting the lowest mark in two years. The global economy expanded 3.0% in the fourth quarter over the same period in the previous year according to an estimate produced by FocusEconomics. The print was a notch below the 3.1% expansion forecast in the previous month and Q3’s 3.1% increase.

Preliminary estimates revealed that the Eurozone continued to grow at a slower pace in the final quarter of 2018, rounding out a year that saw growth go from strong to moderate. According to Eurostat, GDP increased a seasonally-adjusted 0.2% quarteron- quarter in the fourth quarter, matching the third quarter’s reading. While a detailed breakdown of national accounts is not yet available, a weak industrial sector and shaken confidence likely drove the lackluster result. The economy has slowed notably since 2017’s robust recovery, with growth falling to 1.8% in 2018 from 2.4% the year prior.

Growth in the East and South Asia region stabilized in the final quarter of 2018, although it remains low by historical standards. Solid private consumption, on the back of declining unemployment rates and wage gains, supported the expansion. Nevertheless, domestic economic imbalances, declining global demand and diminished business sentiment—partially, although not entirely, due to the trade spat between China and the United States— continued to put downward pressure on regional growth. According to an estimate for the region produced by FocusEconomics, ESA countries grew an aggregated 6.0% year-on-year in the fourth quarter. The print matched both Q3’s expansion and last month’s estimate.

According to a comprehensive estimate by FocusEconomics, ASEAN expanded 4.8% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2018, marking an uptick from Q3’s revised 4.6% expansion (previously reported: +4.7% year-on-year). With Q4 GDP data for Singapore and Vietnam already released, over the last month it was the turn of most of ASEAN’s other big hitters. Indonesia—which accounts for over a third of the region’s nominal GDP—registered sturdy growth, supported by both domestic demand and an improvement in the external sector. Government social assistance in the build-up to April’s general elections likely underpinned consumer spending.