US Data Response Consumer Prices & Industrial Production (Jul. 12) The further decline in CPI inflation to a 20-month low of 1.4% in July, from 1.7%, gives the Fed even more flexibility to act next month, if it feels the economy needs a little more stimulus to drive... 15th August 2012 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales & Producer Prices (Jul.) The sharp 0.8% m/m rebound in retail sales in July was the first increase in four months, but only reversed the declines in the previous two months. So although consumers might have loosened their... 14th August 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update No need to worry about food inflation just yet The pick-up in food inflation in Emerging Europe is likely to raise fears that the recent spike in global agricultural prices is starting to hit the region. There is a fair amount of uncertainty, but... 14th August 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India mired in stagflation The latest output and inflation data suggest India is now suffering from stagflation. Industrial production has stopped growing while inflation is stuck at around 7%. What’s more, there is little... 14th August 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Consumer Prices (Jul.) UK inflation rose for the first time in four months in July, but the increase was driven by temporary factors. We still expect inflation to be back below its 2% target within two or three months. 14th August 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update US Treasuries – lessons from Japan? A messy break-up of the euro-zone could see the yield on 10-year US Treasuries hit a new low. But the US does not appear set for a long period of deflation. Any crisis-driven decline in the yield... 13th August 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly No gold medal for the economy The Olympic mood was abruptly punctured by Mervyn King as he presented the Bank of England’s Inflation Report last week. Although the lower near-term profile for inflation was good news, this was... 13th August 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Producer Prices (Jun.) & Construction Output (Q2) Although July’s producer prices figures disclosed the first rise in input price inflation since February, we doubt that this is a sign of an emerging consumer price inflation threat. Indeed, the... 10th August 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Jul.) Egyptian inflation fell to a six-year low in July as price pressures in virtually all the components of the consumer price basket eased. 9th August 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Economic rebound remains elusive China’s stimulus efforts are feeding a pick-up in infrastructure investment but recovery has not so far spread to the rest of the economy. 9th August 2012 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Canada's sub-par economic performance The below par 2% rate of Canadian GDP growth over the first half of this year must be a concern for policy makers, particularly when the chances are that growth will slow even further in the second... 9th August 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Bank of England Inflation Report (Aug.) The Bank of England’s latest Inflation Report contained substantial downward revisions to the growth and inflation forecasts, supporting our view that more policy stimulus is likely once the current... 8th August 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia pauses, but one more rate cut is on the way The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held its policy rate at 3.5% today. It probably won't be long until the RBA cuts again, but it is nearing the end of its loosening cycle. 7th August 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Full nationalisation could be required to boost lending The Bank of England’s new Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) got underway last week. If the FLS doesn’t work, more radical action to boost bank lending will be needed. 3rd August 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Double-dip deepens The third consecutive quarterly contraction in Q2 left the UK economy lagging even further behind its main competitors. 1st August 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update What next for Peruvian inflation? The key question for Peruvian policymakers is not so much ‘will inflation continue to fall back in 2012?’, but rather ‘will the recent spike in grains prices trigger a rebound in 2013?’. Although we... 1st August 2012 · 1 min read