Europe Chart Pack Q1 should mark the trough in the growth cycle April’s business surveys provided some tentative signs that the euro-zone economy may start to contract at a less rapid pace in Q2. But any improvement will be from a very low base. Indeed, the latest... 6th May 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Labour market downturn gathering pace The downturn in the euro-zone labour market is gathering pace. Another very sharp rise in unemployment in February took the total increase so far to over 2 million. With 1.6 million of that pick-up... 1st April 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Business surveys still paint a gloomy picture The euro-zone business and consumer surveys have recently begun to weaken at a less rapid pace, suggesting that the downturn may be beginning to bottoming out. Nonetheless, it is still too early to... 3rd March 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Industrial slump intensifies The recession in the euro-zone industrial sector has become even more severe. Production dropped by a further 1.6% m/m in November, leaving the annual growth rate at a record low of -7.7%. What’s more... 4th February 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack GDP to fall by at least 2% this year The latest economic data have been pretty awful. Output in the industrial sector is plummeting in response to weakening global demand. What’s more, there is only limited evidence so far of a boost to... 13th January 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Recession spreads to services Recent data suggest that the euro-zone economic downturn is gathering pace. Not only do the latest business surveys point to further steep falls in industrial output, but they also indicate that... 3rd December 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Plunging surveys point to economic contraction The euro-zone economic outlook has gone from bad to worse. The sharpest ever drop in the previously reliable EC Economic Sentiment Indicator in October left it pointing to annual falls in GDP of... 4th November 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Financial turmoil takes centre stage The euro-zone activity outlook has weakened further, but September’s dramatic financial market and banking sector developments have obviously grabbed the limelight. With a number of euro-zone... 2nd October 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Inflation starting to fall Euro-zone consumer price inflation has finally begun to fall, slipping from 4.0% to 3.8% in August. If the oil price remains at current levels, falling energy inflation alone should knock at least 1.5... 3rd September 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Recession risks mounting The latest data from the euro-zone suggest that the economy is at risk of entering a technical recession. Leaked information revealing that the German economy contracted by around 1.0% q/q in Q2... 6th August 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Nasty mix of slowing growth and rising inflation The latest data have provided further evidence of a marked slowdown in euro-zone economic activity. The key business surveys turned down in June, suggesting that growth in Q2 will nowhere near match... 2nd July 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Q1 GDP lays the foundation for a solid year The strong pick-up in euro-zone GDP in Q1 brought further evidence that the region is performing well compared to the slowing US and UK economies. Admittedly, part of the 0.8% quarterly increase... 4th June 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Surveys take a turn for the worse Evidence of a moderate slowdown in euro-zone economic activity has mounted in the past month, with even those survey indicators that were previously most optimistic taking a turn for the worse. After... 7th May 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Country-level divergences widening Recent data have provided reassurance that, in comparison to the US and UK, the euro-zone is experiencing a relatively moderate slowdown in activity. But there are growing signs of a north-south... 9th April 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Stronger euro raises pressure on ECB The renewed surge in the euro to all-time highs against the US dollar and sterling has intensified concerns about the prospects for the industrial and external sectors. The tradeweighted euro is... 5th March 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Activity slips into rate-cutting territory The news on the euro-zone economy has continued to weaken in the early weeks of 2008. Most strikingly, the composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has slipped to levels which, on some previous... 6th February 2008 · 1 min read
