Global recovery slowing down a gear

There have been growing signs of a slowdown in the pace of the global recovery in recent months. World industrial production fell in July and retail sales declined in almost all major economies, while the business surveys suggest that activity softened again in August. To some extent, this moderation in growth has been benign, reflecting a natural normalisation of activity as the effects of past stimulus fade and output approaches or exceeds pre-virus levels. However, high frequency data on activities such as restaurant dining show that consumer caution has returned in some places as virus cases have risen again. What’s more, the surveys offer evidence that widespread shortages of goods and labour are limiting growth. With the notable exception of the euro-zone, we think that the rapid phase of the recovery is already in the rear-view mirror for the world’s major economies.