UK Housing Market Update Extending Right to Buy will reduce housing market efficiency Extending Right to Buy to housing associations will be challenging to implement, and could make it more difficult to boost the supply of housing. And other things equal, moving people from the social... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Strong dollar unlikely to trigger a re-run of Lat Am crises Despite falling back a little over the past few weeks, the strength of the US dollar has rekindled fears in Latin America of a re-run of the economic crises that swept across the region in the 1980s... 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
Europe Economics Update French tax breaks seem unlikely to revive investment Investment has been the weakest link in France’s feeble economic recovery so far. But it is not clear that the French Government’s latest plans will alter this picture dramatically. For that, a... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Window for policy loosening starting to close The wave of EM policy loosening that was triggered by the drop in oil prices at the end of last year is now reaching an end. However, it won't be until 2016 that most central banks move into... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response Commercial property investment (Mar.) The latest snapshot of investment activity offered no evidence that the uncertainty surrounding May’s general election is deterring investors away from UK commercial property. 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South African banks’ rising external debt slips under radar The publication of South African Q4 balance of payments data last month grabbed the headlines because of the sharp reduction in the current account deficit, but the worrying rise in banks’ external... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Feb.) February’s strong rise in euro-zone industrial production suggested that industry is starting to feel the benefits of a weaker euro and a lower oil price. 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
China Data Response Lending, credit (Mar.) & FX reserves (Q1 Credit issuance was unusually weak in March but, with the late Chinese New Year break still casting a shadow, we wouldn’t read too much into this. Meanwhile, the fall in the value of foreign exchange... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Bank Indonesia to cut rates again before end-2015 Bank Indonesia (BI) left its main policy rate on hold today at 7.5% despite the continued weakness of the economy. Although much will depend on what happens to the rupiah, we expect to see interest... 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
Emerging Europe Economics Focus Brightening outlook for Central European consumer markets Following a torrid few years after the global financial crisis, Central European consumer spending has started to recover gradually over the last eighteen months and there are reasons to expect this... 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
