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Michigan Economy Dips in April, According to Comerica Bank's Michigan Business Activity Index

DETROIT, May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Michigan Business Activity Index, compiled by Comerica Bank, fell two points to 106 in April. That put the index at the lower end of the range over which it has been fluctuating since last June.

"The Michigan economy took a slight turn for the worse in April," according to Dana Johnson, chief economist at Comerica Bank. "While the region is benefiting from a healthy national economy, the structural adjustments centered in the auto industry are creating a formidable headwind. With further cut backs likely in employment and output in the local auto sector, Michigan probably won't establish a consistent pattern of growth until late 2005."

The Michigan Business Activity Index (MBAI) represents ten different measures of Michigan economic activity compiled monthly by the Economics Department of Comerica Bank. The MBAI is seasonally adjusted, corrected for inflation, and expressed as an index, with 1996 as base year equal to 100. The MBAI series has been calculated monthly since 1957 and depicts state economic activity over seven full swings of the U.S. business cycle.

Comerica Bank, the largest bank in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA) . Headquartered in Detroit, Comerica is strategically aligned by the Business Bank, Small Business Banking & Personal Financial Services, and Wealth & Institutional Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping businesses and people be successful. Comerica reported total assets of $53.5 billion at March 31, 2005.

CONTACT: Dana Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of
Comerica Bank, +1-734-930-2401, +1-800-895-7708

NOTE TO EDITORS: A chart detailing the Michigan Business Activity Index since January, 2000, is available at http://www.comerica.com in the Economics section.