Japan Data Response Unemployment Rate, Retail Sales (Sep.) & Small Business Confidence (Oct.) Today's data show that economic momentum remains strong. Small business confidence and retail sales both reached new multi-year highs, helped by strong employment gains. 29th October 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Asian markets see small rises Following a rollercoaster couple of months, which saw big falls in financial markets in August, followed by a strong rebound in September, equity markets have recorded small gains this month... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Inflation expectations pose little threat to guidance On close inspection, the recent rises in inflation expectations among households and in the gilt market appear to be nothing to worry about. The risk that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) abandons... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
US Data Response Industrial Production (Sep.) Industrial production gained some momentum in September and, once the hit from the government shutdown has passed, industry should be supported by the modest global recovery and the fall in the dollar... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Sep. 13) With a hefty 1.5% rise in house prices during September, the Land Registry is now in agreement with other measures that prices are coming under continued upwards pressure. But, parts of central London... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
UK Data Response CBI Distributive Trades Survey (Oct.) October's CBI Distributive Trades Survey results surprised on the downside, with sales growth at its lowest since June. But there are good reasons to think this was probably just a one-off and that... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
US Economics Focus Can America's debt problem be solved? It's ironic that the recent government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis came at a time when America's debt situation is improving. Over the next decade, a combination of faster GDP growth and only a... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Czech election uncertainty unlikely to have big economic impact This weekend’s inconclusive Czech legislative election has raised the prospect of a prolonged period of political uncertainty, which many suggest could have a detrimental impact on the economy and the... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Chart Pack Property recovery quickens and broadens All-property rental values ticked up by 0.1%m/m in September while yields edged lower. As a result, capital values rose by 0.6%m/m. That was the largest monthly gain since April 2010. But perhaps more... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Weak domestic demand to hold back growth in Korea Today’s GDP data show that Korea recorded another quarter of solid growth in Q3, thanks mainly to strong domestic demand. Looking ahead, low interest rates and a pickup in exports should provide a... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Capacity constraints won't threaten higher inflation for years In addition to downgrading its economic outlook last week and postponing when it expects the economy to return to full capacity until late 2015, the Bank of Canada also lowered its estimate of... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly What's behind the slowdown in jobs growth? A satisfactory explanation for the easing in jobs growth is hard to find, but a fading of the fiscal drag and a further pick up in overseas demand means it probably won’t be sustained for long. We... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly High cash levels unlikely to trigger investment boom Japanese firms have accumulated record amounts of cash and the conventional wisdom is that it is only a matter of time before this triggers a surge in investment. Our view, in contrast, is that... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro-zone still on track for a grinding recovery Although the Bank of Spain’s Q3 GDP estimate suggested that Spain may have exited its two-year recession, the fall in the euro-zone composite PMI in October highlighted that the region’s economic... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Threat to recovery from energy prices overplayed With last week’s GDP figures providing further evidence that the economic recovery is becoming entrenched, the recovery should be able to withstand the looming round of energy price hikes. Indeed... 28th October 2013 · 1 min read