And the best way to rein in the consumption boom is to tighten fiscal policy.

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America's economy is relying ever more heavily on a stockmarket-fuelled consumption boom, and the stockmarket itself has reached ever more surreal heights.

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Since it is exports that have fuelled the consumption boom, and since electronic goods have been a crucial component of exports, the economy looks increasingly vulnerable.

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That means more layoffs, which will dampen any consumption boom.

ECONOMIST: Asian economies

Indonesia's growth rates have exceeded 6% in recent years, with a domestic consumption driving a boom and largely shielding the country from the worst of the global downturn.

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The housing boom fuels consumption in several ways.

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The result has been a housing boom that has kept consumption afloat, because people have felt richer.

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Environmentalists attacked its noisy sonic boom and its fuel consumption.

ECONOMIST: Air travel

None of this should surprise environmentalists: Fuel-efficiency standards sparked the boom in the ultimate symbol of wasteful consumption, the sport utility vehicle.

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On the demand side, LNG exports are set to boom in coming years (requested permits are equivalent to more than 60% of current consumption).

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