US Housing Market Chart Pack Sharp rise in housing starts The strong 22.7% m/m increase in housing starts in November was an encouraging sign that the rise in mortgage interest rates is not a permanent setback for the homebuilding recovery. This gain echoed... 10th January 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Rate cut still on the cards in Peru this year The Peruvian Central Bank (BCRP) left interest rates on hold last night, but with growth now settling at slower rates we think that policy will be eased this year. Concerns over the strength of... 10th January 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Draghi prepares the ground for more action President Draghi’s repeated assertions at today’s press conference that the ECB stands ready to use all instruments allowed by its Treaty suggested that more policy action is on the way. While another... 9th January 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update MPC likely to adapt forward guidance soon While today’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting passed without event, the Committee may soon adjust its forward guidance. Since there are no signs that falling unemployment is stoking inflation... 9th January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia on hold, no hikes on the horizon Bank Indonesia (BI) today left interest rates on hold for the second consecutive month, suggesting it has become less concerned by the weakness of the currency. Looking ahead, with inflation set to... 9th January 2014 · 1 min read
China Data Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Dec.) Consumer price inflation fell further in December on the back of a sharp drop in food inflation. It may rebound this month due to the usual price volatility around Chinese New Year but is likely to... 9th January 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank of Korea to keep rates on hold until 2015 The Bank of Korea (BoK) kept its policy rate on hold today for the eighth consecutive month. With the economy set to stage a gradual recovery over the next year and inflationary pressures likely to... 9th January 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Undervaluation unlikely to prevent further yen weakness The yen is now “undervalued” on most measures. However, deviations from fundamental value can, of course, persist for a very long time and should not prove an obstacle to fresh declines. We continue... 9th January 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economic Outlook The leader of the pack? The UK economy has leapt towards the top of the international growth table and there are good reasons to think it can stay there. We now expect the economy to grow by 3% this year and next. 8th January 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Deflationary pressures still building Recent euro-zone inflation data have provided firmer signs that CPI inflation will remain well below the ECB’s 2% stability ceiling for longer than the Bank itself expects. Admittedly, headline CPI... 8th January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Romania likely to cut rates further Following today's decision to lower interest rates, the Romanian central bank hinted that further policy easing could be on the cards. The country's large external financing needs limit the scope for... 8th January 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Venezuela: Devaluation through the back door The Venezuelan government’s re-introduction of SICAD foreign exchange auctions amounts to yet another devaluation of the bolivar. But with the authorities unlikely to present a lasting solution to the... 7th January 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Falling unemployment unlikely to prompt rate hike While unemployment is falling swiftly towards the 7% threshold above which the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has pledged to keep official interest rates on hold, it remains unlikely that rates will... 7th January 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Inflation Monitor (Jan.) Inflation appears to have finished 2013 on a subdued note. Policymakers’ latest moves to tighten the regulation of shadow banking along with other measures intended to rein in credit growth should... 7th January 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Fall in the lira may trigger Turkish rate hike The Turkish central bank has been extremely reluctant to raise official interest rates over the past year or so. However, the recent fall in the lira may now force its hand. On balance, we think it is... 7th January 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Is the monetary arrow of Abenomics misdirected? The return of inflation prompted by the Bank of Japan's bold monetary easing may not be unambiguously positive for all sectors of the economy. Consumer spending will be weaker than otherwise and any... 6th January 2014 · 1 min read
