Canada Rapid Response Canada Retail Sales (June 2025) The strong rebound in June retail sales should reassure the Bank of Canada that consumer spending is holding up, although the flash estimate of a drop back in sales in July implies that growth remains... 22nd August 2025 · 2 mins read
Asset Allocation Update What’s next for non-US equities? Though future changes to US tariffs could still cause some volatility in equity markets, we think other factors will mean equities outside the US continue to make decent gains for the rest of this... 22nd August 2025 · 4 mins read
UK Economics Weekly UK Weekly: Property taxes won’t solve the Chancellor’s fiscal problems Speculation around which taxes the Chancellor could raise in the Autumn Budget to avoid breaking her fiscal rule and to rebuild her headroom got into full swing this week. Although in theory property... 22nd August 2025 · 4 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly ANZ Weekly: RBNZ turns dovish, Australia discusses tax reform When the RBNZ cut rates by 25bp at its meeting this week, it acknowledged that it would need to lower the policy rate all the way to 2.5% this cycle – consistent with our longstanding forecast. And... 22nd August 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: External headwinds still not doing much damage There are mounting signs that higher US tariffs are starting to weigh on exports. However, with business investment holding up and inflation still strong, the financial markets are coming around to... 22nd August 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Consumer Prices (July 2025) Although inflation is likely to cool a bit further in the months ahead, it shouldn’t prevent the Bank of Japan from resuming its tightening cycle in October. 22nd August 2025 · 2 mins read
US Housing Market Rapid Response US Existing Home Sales (Jul. 2025) Despite a small uptick in July, home sales have held in a narrow 3.9-4.1 million annualised range since mid-2023, a historically weak level that highlights the lack of momentum in the struggling... 21st August 2025 · 2 mins read
UK Economics Rapid Response UK S&P Global Flash PMIs (Aug. 2025) The rises in August’s composite activity PMI and services output prices balances marginally increase the chances that the Bank of England will leave interest rates on hold at 4.00% in November. 21st August 2025 · 3 mins read
UK Economics Rapid Response UK Public Finances (Jul. 2025) July’s undershoot in government borrowing continued the decent start to the fiscal year and leaves borrowing broadly in line with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s 2025/26 fiscal year forecast of... 21st August 2025 · 3 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Flash PMIs (Aug. 25) While the strength in the composite PMI in August confirms that Japan’s economy is proving resilient to global trade tensions, there are early signs that external demand is weakening in earnest. 21st August 2025 · 2 mins read
US Rapid Response US Fed Minutes (July 29-30) The minutes of the Fed’s late-July FOMC meeting reveal that there was no broader support for a rate cut beyond the two formal dissenters – Trump appointees Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller... 20th August 2025 · 2 mins read
US Economics Update Why is the US tariff rate not higher? The actual tariff rate on US goods imports was only 9% in June, far below most estimates at the time of about 15%. This reflects a shift in the composition of imports towards countries and goods with... 20th August 2025 · 4 mins read
US Housing Market Update Is rising FHA loan distress a canary in the coalmine? Rising delinquency rates among typically lower-income FHA borrowers hint at stress in riskier segments of the residential mortgage market. But since most FHA borrowers remain in decent financial shape... 20th August 2025 · 4 mins read
UK Economics Rapid Response UK Consumer Prices (Jul. 2025) While the rise in CPI inflation from 3.6% in June to 3.8% (consensus and Capital Economics forecast 3.7%) will fuel speculation that further interest rate cuts are off the agenda this year, the Bank... 20th August 2025 · 3 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update RBNZ will cut rates to 2.5% by year-end When the RBNZ slashed rates by 25bp today, it effectively endorsed our long-held forecast for a below-consensus terminal rate of 2.5%. However, with the Bank judging the balance of risks to the... 20th August 2025 · 3 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Rapid Response RBNZ Meeting (Aug. 2025) When the RBNZ slashed rates by 25bp today, it clearly signalled that there is more easing in the pipeline. Accordingly, we’re more confident than ever in our below-consensus terminal rate forecast of... 20th August 2025 · 2 mins read