UK Economic Outlook Don’t underestimate the economy’s hidden slack Economists and policymakers are significantly overestimating the permanent damage inflicted to the economy from the financial crisis and recession. We still think that the economy has the potential to... 16th April 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response Nigeria CPI Inflation (Mar.) Nigerian inflation picked up in March, due in large part to the weakness of the naira. While the currency has stabilised in recent weeks, we expect that the effects of its previous sharp depreciation... 16th April 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Mar.) Inflation in Saudi Arabia eased further last month, to 2.0% y/y, driven in large part by a drop in housing rental price inflation. Against the backdrop of slower growth and weak commodity prices, we... 15th April 2015 · 1 min read
India Data Response Wholesale Prices (Mar.) Wholesale price inflation fell further into negative territory in March to its lowest rate since the series began in 2005. Crucially, core inflation continues to drop sharply, providing more evidence... 15th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Sri Lanka cuts rates to new lows, door opened for more Against a backdrop of falling inflation, the central bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) today cut its deposit and lending policy rates by 50 basis points each, to 6.0% and 7.5%, respectively. 15th April 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swedish Consumer Prices (Mar. 15) Sweden’s headline inflation rate picked up further in March. But with inflation likely to remain well below target and the underlying rate unchanged, we continue to think that the Riksbank will cut... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales & Producer Prices (Mar.) The 0.9% m/m rebound in retail sales in March would seem to confirm that the coldest winter on record in the Northeast explains much of the weakness in the preceding two months. 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Consumer Prices & Producer Prices (Mar.) UK inflation held at zero in March, but it could yet dip into negative territory at some point in the coming months. But regardless of whether inflation turns negative or not, the big picture is that... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Swedish Consumer Prices (Mar.) Sweden’s headline inflation rate picked up further in March. But with inflation likely to remain well below target and the underlying rate unchanged, we continue to think that the Riksbank will cut... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response BRC Retail Sales Monitor (Mar.) Whilst the latest BRC Retail Sales Monitor was distorted somewhat by the early timing of Easter this year, it still offered encouraging signs that deflationary pressures on the high street are not... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore is finished with policy loosening The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today decided to make no changes to its policy stance, despite the current bout of deflation and downbeat GDP growth in the first quarter. Concerns about the... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
India Data Response Consumer Prices (Mar.) Consumer price inflation unexpectedly dropped in March as concerns over the impact of heavy rains on food inflation proved unfounded. What’s more, core inflation remains low, and headline inflation is... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Fed tightening pace dependent on market reaction New York Fed President William Dudley noted last week that the pace of rate hikes will depend a lot on the reaction to the initial lift-off in financial markets. The upshot is that, while there is an... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Should we trust the upbeat business surveys? The last few weeks have seen mixed messages on the health of the economic recovery, with the upbeat tone of the business surveys contrasting with initial official estimates of output in the first two... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Deflation Watch: UK could now be in deflation Tuesday’s inflation figures could well show that the UK entered deflation last month. But the fact that this mainly reflects lower energy prices makes it a good thing for the economy and there is no... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Mar.) Consumer price inflation held steady in March but we expect a drop in food price inflation to pull it lower over the coming months. Although inflation is likely to remain in positive territory, a... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
