DETROIT, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Detroit Area Business Activity Index fell 1 point in November to a level of 111 after falling 1 point in October. So far this year, this index has averaged 112, down 2 1/2 percent from the average for 2004.

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"The local economy has softened a bit over the past several months in reaction to elevated energy prices, higher short-term interest rates, and the ongoing consolidation of the auto industry," according to Dana Johnson, chief economist at Comerica Bank. "The Super Bowl should give us a boost this winter, but the fundamentals point to continued lagging performance in 2006."

Comerica Bank compiles the Detroit Area Business Activity Index (DABAI) monthly from eight different measures of regional activity which are seasonally adjusted, corrected for inflation, and expressed as an index, with 1996 as base year equal to 100. The Economics Department of Comerica Bank has calculated the DABAI monthly since 1957; depicting Metro-Detroit's economy 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 $54.3 billion at September 30, 2005.

SOURCE: Comerica Bank

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

Web site: http://www.comerica.com/