Emerging Europe Economics Update EM-wide inflation drops to seven-year low EM inflation is now at a seven-year low. Looking ahead, it is set to ease further in most major commodity producing EMs over the coming months, providing central banks with room to cut interest rates. 27th September 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Aug.) The sharp fall in Saudi inflation in August was driven by a drop in food inflation, although there were signs that the weakness of the economy is curtailing underlying price pressures. We expect... 26th September 2016 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Consumer Prices (Aug.) & Retail Sales (Jul.) The decline in the Bank of Canada’s preferred measure of core CPI inflation to a two-year low of 1.8% in August, from 2.1%, shows that the upward pressure on prices from last year’s slump in the... 23rd September 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly ECB unlikely to follow in Bank of Japan’s footsteps The Bank of Japan’s announcement that it will replace its target for the monetary base with a 0% target for 10-year government bond yields has prompted speculation about whether the ECB might follow... 23rd September 2016 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Is the economy in a Brexit sweet spot? The UK economy may be in a bit of a post-referendum “sweet spot” in which some of the positive developments which we have expected to cushion the impact of the vote – including MPC action and the drop... 23rd September 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Sep.) The fourth straight rise in the manufacturing PMI suggests that the sector continued to take the strong appreciation of the exchange rate in its stride. However, the weakness in price pressures should... 23rd September 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Interest rates to stay low in the Philippines With the economy growing strongly but inflation under control, today’s decision by the central bank inthe Philippines (BSP) to keep its main policy rate on hold at 3.0% came as no surprise. Looking... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Bi-Weekly Consumer Prices (Sep.) The rise in Mexican inflation in the first half of this month, to 2.9% y/y from 2.7% y/y over August as a whole, alongside the sharp drop in the peso over the past couple of weeks, means that there is... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Brazil IPCA-15 (Sep. 16) Data to mid-September provide the first signs that Brazilian food inflation – which has been a source of recent concern for the central bank – is starting to ease. But while that could put an interest... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkish MPC shifts focus to growth The Turkish MPC’s decision to cut its overnight lending rate by a further 25bp was accompanied by a clear shift in the Council’s focus to concerns about the economic slowdown. This provides even more... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Norges Bank to cut interest rates to zero next year The Norges Bank left its key policy rate on hold today and signalled that no change was likely in the remainder of the year. But we think that more monetary loosening will be needed in 2017. 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update New Zealand - RBNZ desperate to get the dollar down Although the Reserve Bank of New Zealand left interest rates on hold at 2.0% today, it hinted that in order to weaken the dollar and boost inflation, it will soon cut rates to a new record low of 1.75... 22nd September 2016 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Riksbank minutes suggest no extension of asset purchases The minutes of the Riksbank’s latest meeting revealed that at least half of the Executive Board thought that there is little need for the Bank to extend asset purchases beyond December. Indeed... 21st September 2016 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Food inflation to fall in Brazil and Colombia, but rise in Mexico Food inflation should ease over the coming months in Brazil and Colombia, which will help to bring down the headline inflation rates in both countries. By contrast, in Mexico, we expect the lagged... 21st September 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Riksbank minutes suggest no extension of asset purchases The minutes of the Riksbank’s latest meeting revealed that at least half of the Executive Board thought that there is little need for the Bank to extend asset purchases beyond December. Indeed... 21st September 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa Consumer Prices (Aug.) August’s within-target inflation reading of 5.9% y/y makes it all but certain that the Reserve Bank will hold its key interest rate at 7.00% at its meeting tomorrow. 21st September 2016 · 1 min read