Africa Economics Update South African bond market unconvinced by budget South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced new projections for smaller fiscal deficits over the coming years in today’s budget statement, but we think that these are unlikely to be met... 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Feb 14.) The smaller euro-zone peripheral economies made good fiscal progress last year, but the adjustment process is by no means over yet. Italy and Spain fared less well. As a result, this year, they may... 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Hong Kong set for gradual recovery Hong Kong’s economy grew at its fastest pace in a year in the last quarter of 2013, thanks mainly to a continued recovery in exports. Looking ahead, with the territory’s prospects largely dependent on... 26th February 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update G20: “Abenomics” goes global? The G20’s bold plan to boost their collective GDP by more than 2% over the next five years contains many of the elements of the policies, collectively known as “Abenomics”, adopted by PM Abe’s... 24th February 2014 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexican growth close to bottoming out The slowdown in Mexican GDP growth to 0.7% y/y in Q4 means that the economy grew by just 1.1% in 2013 – its weakest performance since 2009, and its second weakest performance since 2002. Nonetheless... 21st February 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Singapore budget looks to the long term Today’s budget for the coming fiscal year targets a small surplus, which comes as no surprise given the reasonably upbeat short-term outlook for the economy and lingering concerns over inflation. But... 21st February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales & Public Finances (Jan.) The sharp monthly drop in retail sales volumes in January is unlikely to herald the start of a consumer spending slowdown. Meanwhile, the fiscal consolidation remains on track despite January’s... 21st February 2014 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Fiscal drag to add to growth concerns Next month’s budget is likely to be neutral for growth. But on a broader definition that accounts for off-budget activity, the fiscal stance this year will probably be a major drag on the economy. 20th February 2014 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Zambia’s fiscal position a major concern Zambia’s fiscal position has deteriorated markedly over the past few years despite the tailwind of high copper prices, which have boosted revenues. A relatively low burden of public debt means that a... 12th February 2014 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Federal government will need every bit of extra fiscal room It seems almost certain now that the Federal government will meet its timetable for eliminating the budget deficit before fiscal year 2015-16, which will give it the wiggle room it needed to deliver... 11th February 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s fiscal position still a major concern At first glance, the interim Egyptian government seems to have made some progress in bringing the country’s dire public finances back under control. However, the apparent improvement can largely be... 6th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Will policy help or hinder the recovery? Provided that low inflation allows monetary policy to remain very loose for some time yet and a further sharp rise in the pound can be avoided, policy should not be major hindrance to the economic... 5th February 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Brighter signs don't preclude need for more policy action Despite the recent bout of disappointing global economic news and financial market turbulence, economic indicators like the PMI suggest that the euro-zone’s fragile recovery gained a bit of a momentum... 5th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Outlook for 2014 still bright The economic recovery appears to have remained strong at the start of 2014. Although the composite CIPS/Markit activity index weakened again in January, it still points on the basis of past form to... 5th February 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Surplus ambitions raise some problematic issues The main political parties have recently been fighting amongst themselves for the mantle of fiscal responsibility. But ambitions on both sides for a budget surplus exaggerate the influence politicians... 29th January 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Jan.) The latest fiscal data suggest that, last year, the smaller peripheral economies made significantly better fiscal progress than Italy or Spain. 29th January 2014 · 1 min read
