Commodities Update China still the wildcard Three macro developments should continue to set the tone for industrial commodity prices in the coming months. The end of the euro-zone recession is only a small positive, while the prospect that the... 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update End of euro-zone recession lifts global growth This week’s GDP releases confirm that global growth was stronger in Q2 than in Q1. However, growth at current rates will leave a lot of spare capacity and daunting debt burdens in many countries. 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Data Response MPC Minutes (Aug.) & Labour market (Jun./Jul.) MPC member Martin Weale’s vote against the introduction of forward guidance will hardly help to reassure the markets about the strength of the MPC’s commitment to keep interest rates low. 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Central Europe picks up pace in Q2 Growth in Central Europe accelerated in Q2, helped by improving conditions in the euro-zone, but the economies of South Eastern Europe seem to have weakened once again. The potential for further flare... 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q2) The return to modest rates of economic growth in the euro-zone as a whole won’t address the deep-seated economic and fiscal problems of the peripheral countries. 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Regional growth likely to have picked up in Q2 GDP data due to be released over the next few weeks are likely to show that economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa picked up in the second quarter of this year. But while regional prospects as a whole... 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Chilean central bank bides its time over rate move Yesterday’s central bank meeting in Chile revealed that policymakers are taking a cautious approach to changes in interest rates despite evidence of a slowing economy. We remain comfortable with our... 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update India’s latest data underline stagflation problem India’s latest data releases underline the challenges faced by the country and its new central bank governor. Today’s inflation data show that wholesale price inflation accelerated and consumer price... 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Focus What does the “services revolution” mean for EMs? Improvements in technology are making it increasingly easy to trade services. This has led some commentators to argue that services can become a more viable driver of EM growth, allowing EMs to break... 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Low wage cost pressures point to muted inflation The latest slowdown in hourly earnings provides further evidence that underlying inflation is likely to remain close to the lower bound of the Bank of Canada's target range of 1% to 3%. This supports... 13th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Outlook The recovery is underway Our central commercial property forecasts are unchanged from the previous Analyst. The recovery has begun and, driven both by gradually rising rents and gently falling yields, we expect all-property... 13th August 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Case for corporate tax cuts appears irresistible Even without the need to mitigate the impact of the planned doubling of the consumption tax, the arguments for lowering Japan’s relatively high corporate tax rates would be very strong. But with a... 13th August 2013 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Easing of one-child policy unlikely to alter growth outlook There is growing speculation that China’s one-child policy could be eased later this year. However, the economic impact of any change in the policy is likely to be relatively small. 13th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales (Jul.) July’s retail sales data suggest that in response to the recent gains in employment, equity prices, house prices and the modest improvement in the availability of credit, households have started to... 13th August 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update German minimum wage won’t rebalance the euro-zone Germany seems set to introduce a national minimum wage after September’s election. But it will probably do little to boost German consumer spending or to rebalance the euro-zone more generally. 13th August 2013 · 1 min read
