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.
Become a client to read more
This is premium content that requires an active Capital Economics subscription to view.
Already have an account?
You may already have access to this premium content as part of a paid subscription.
Sign in to read the content in full or get details of how you can access it
Register for free
Sign up for a free account to gain:
- Unlock additional content
- Register for Capital Economics events
- Receive email updates and economist-curated newsletters
- Request a free trial of our services