Europe Rapid Response ECB Policy Announcement (July 2026) The ECB’s decision to leave its policy rates unchanged was no surprise, and the press release gives no clear signal about the Bank’s next move. If energy prices drop back in the coming months as we... 23rd July 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (May 2026) May’s increase in euro-zone retail sales volumes shows that consumers kept on spending despite the drop in confidence and real incomes in Q2. It also reinforces our view that the impact of the jump in... 6th July 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone HICP (June 2026) The substantial fall in headline inflation in the euro-zone in June left it below the ECB’s forecast, and if energy prices remain around current levels it will fall again in July. This makes us more... 1st July 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone national inflation data (June 2026) The national HICP data for June suggest that euro-zone headline inflation fell from 3.2% in May to 2.8% in June. That would leave it below the ECB’s forecast, making it less likely that the Bank will... 30th June 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (June) The flash Composite PMI for June suggests that the impact of the Iran war on activity may now be easing and, perhaps more importantly, that the worst of the Iran-related inflationary pressures may... 23rd June 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone Consumer Confidence (June 2026) Consumer confidence improved again in June but the mood among households is still very gloomy. Consumer spending growth is likely to be very weak in Q2 before staging a gradual recovery in Q3 as real... 22nd June 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (April 2026) Euro-zone industrial production held up well in the first two months of the Iran war, and the recent news on the Strait of Hormuz will be welcomed by the region’s manufacturers. But energy prices are... 15th June 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone national inflation data (May 2026) The national HICP data for May suggest that euro-zone headline inflation edged up from 3.0% in April to 3.1%. If oil and natural gas prices remain around current levels or fall back, energy inflation... 29th May 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone EC Survey (May) Although the EC Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) rose slightly in May and selling price expectations fell back a touch, the big picture is unchanged: the euro-zone has suffered a significant... 28th May 2026 · 2 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone Consumer Confidence (May 2026) The drop in consumer confidence since the Iran war began, together with the weakness in the business surveys, suggests that the euro-zone economy might contract in Q2. 21st May 2026 · 2 mins read
