Europe Economics Update Greek deal delays the day of reckoning Euro-zone policymakers have found a bit more money down the back of the sofa to buy another sticking plaster for Greece. But the relatively easy options are running out fast. 27th November 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Governor Carney will face new challenges Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney is well-qualified to manage the Bank of England’s expanded role when he takes over from Mervyn King as Governor of the Bank of England at the end of next June... 26th November 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Another Greek sticking plaster Euro-zone finance ministers are inching ever closer to a deal on the bail-out which will satisfy their own debt sustainability criteria and in the near term at least avoid a politically troublesome... 26th November 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly All change at the Bank of Japan? We think that the markets would be wrong to expect major changes in the Bank of Japan’s monetary stance after the Lower House elections in December. For a start, it is not certain that the LDP will... 26th November 2012 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Global growth prospects beyond 2020 Some commentators argue that growth of world per capita income over the coming few decades will be much lower than in the past, because technological progress has slowed or because of the depletion of... 22nd November 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update What next for the Bank of Japan? The election of an LDP-led government would be unlikely to result in the dramatic shift in policy at the Bank of Japan than many now seem to expect. Proposals that threaten the independence of the... 20th November 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Are retailers’ cost pressures past their worst? After enduring a series of cost shocks in recent years alongside stagnant consumer demand, retailers could be forgiven for thinking that the squeeze on their profits will never cease. Nonetheless, the... 20th November 2012 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update The global fall-out from Middle East tensions The escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas has contributed to the recent resilience of oil prices and the fragility of equities. The avoidance of a full-scale ground war in Gaza might... 19th November 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly The return of the LDP Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda dissolved parliament on Friday, paving the way for a general election on 16th December. The decision is likely to mean the fall of the ruling DPJ party from office and... 19th November 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Will Christmas on the high street be a wash-out? October’s poor retail sales figures have prompted fears of a disappointing Christmas on the high street. While we doubt that it will be a write-off, we expect consumers to be cautious and retailers... 16th November 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungary and the IMF one year on Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the start of Hungary’s negotiations with the IMF. Unfortunately, we are no closer to a deal now than we were then. For the time being, the markets don’t appear... 16th November 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Real pay prospects deteriorate Although real consumer spending probably rose in the third quarter, that could be as good as it gets for a while. 16th November 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Interpret Black Friday sales with caution We would warn against reading too much into the performance of retail sales on Black Friday as there is little evidence that it will set the tone for sales during the whole holiday season. More... 15th November 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Is consumer spending facing a lost decade? There is at last light at the end of the tunnel for consumer demand. But while we expect some sort of recovery in consumer spending to get going relatively soon, we expect that recovery to be very... 15th November 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales (Oct. 12) October’s official retail sales figures support the timelier surveys in suggesting that the recovery on the high street is losing momentum ahead of the crucial Christmas shopping season. 15th November 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update New line-up dents but doesn’t derail hopes of reform The unveiling of China’s new leadership in the Great Hall of the People today has dented hopes of economic policy reform. Of the three “reformist” candidates thought to have had a chance of joining... 15th November 2012 · 1 min read
