Africa Data Response Kenya CPI Inflation (Apr.) Kenyan inflation rose by a stronger-than-expected 7.1% y/y in April, and we believe that weak food production and the depreciation of the shilling will increase inflationary pressures later in the... 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Apr.) & Unemployment (Mar.) While the recent bout of falling prices in the euro-zone ended in April, the threat of deflation in the currency union has certainly not lifted altogether. 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Spanish GDP (Q1 est.) & CPI (April) While Spain’s economic recovery gathered further pace in the first quarter, the large amount of spare capacity left in the economy is sustaining deflationary pressures. 30th April 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swedish Riksbank increases stimulus to battle deflation Sweden’s Riksbank stepped up its fight against deflation by more than doubling the size of its government bond purchase programme and reiterating its willingness to make monetary policy even more... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Steady core inflation indication of a structural EM slowdown Most of the recent slowdown in inflation across the emerging world has been the result of the weakness in food and fuel inflation. Meanwhile, core inflation is barely any lower than a couple of years... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Flash CPI (Apr.) April’s slightly bigger-than-expected rise in German HICP inflation will reinforce hopes that recent price declines were a temporary phenomenon that will have positive effects on the economy. But with... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Slow out of the blocks Emerging Asia has made a weak start to the year. The headlines have been grabbed by China's slowdown but, a few positive signs from India aside, there has been little cause for cheer around the rest... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response EC Business & Consumer Survey (Apr.) The European Commission’s monthly Business and Consumer survey for April echoed the message from some other recent surveys that the crisis in Greece might be starting to constrain the euro-zone... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Mar.) March’s euro-zone monetary data suggest that economic growth might pick up in the coming months. But the continued wrangling over Greece’s fiscal situation presents a significant risk to the country’s... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update The implications of a weak monsoon Forecasts for a weaker-than-normal monsoon in India this year have raised concerns about the effect on the wider economy. Although lower rainfall could affect GDP growth and inflation at the margin... 28th April 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Apr.) Small business confidence weakened in April and remains consistent with sluggish activity in the manufacturing sector. 28th April 2015 · 1 min read
Global Central Bank Watch Has the threat of deflation passed already? Signs that price pressures have picked up a bit during the past month or two have prompted some to suggest that the threat of deflation has vanished almost as suddenly as it appeared. We disagree. In... 27th April 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Chart Pack Russia’s economy slumps, growth weakens in Turkey The region’s two largest economies – Russia and Turkey – have continued to struggle over the past month. Russia’s economy appears to have contracted sharply by around 3% y/y in Q1. Meanwhile, we... 27th April 2015 · 1 min read
Bank of Japan Watch BoJ could spring another surprise With economic activity sluggish and inflation slowing, we think it is a question of when rather than if the Bank will step up the pace of its asset purchases. Mr Kuroda has given no hint recently –... 27th April 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Has QQE really lifted inflation expectations? In contrast to the Bank of Japan, we are far from convinced that QQE has lifted inflation expectations. In fact, wage and price setting behaviour have changed little since the programme was launched... 24th April 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico IGAE (Feb.) & Bi-Weekly CPI (Apr.) Activity data from Mexico for February were a little weaker than expected and leave the economy on course to grow by a relatively sluggish 2.5% y/y in the first quarter of the year. There is better... 23rd April 2015 · 1 min read