ECONOMIC (Opinion): Compare BRICS GDP

• The world’s economic growth continued to slow in the final quarter of 2011. 
• Year-on-year growth fell by just under one percentage point to 2.5%. 
• Developed countries’ average growth slumped to less than half a percent despite a small uptick in the third quarter. 
• The BRIC economies saw declining growth for a seventh successive quarter. 
• In Europe heavy austerity measures have stifled growth; the economies of the Netherlands, Greece and Italy all contracted in the fourth quarter. 
• Oil prices, which recently rose over $128 per barrel, are placing new pressure on the global economy. 
• The news is not all bad, however; America's job market has started to pick up speed again. The latest quarterly results show the biggest increase in employment added since April 2006—a good start to the new year.