China Economics Update Current account surplus falling but trade frictions to remain Data released on the eve of Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to the US show that China's current account surplus has continued to tumble. But plenty of potential sources of trade friction remain. 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jan.) Even though our measure of M3 grew by a healthy 5.6% in the year to January, there are some signs that bank lending is starting to grow more slowly. The danger is that a sovereign debt default in the... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Money and credit still very weak While some of the euro-zone activity indicators have nudged up this month, money and credit growth have weakened further. The annual growth rate of the broad money supply fell to an 11-month low of 1... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales (Jan.) January’s retail sales data are better than they look and provide yet more evidence that the US economy is improving. 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Making sense of Latin America’s inflation conundrum Recent data have given mixed messages on the outlook for inflation in Latin America. On the one hand, inflation seems to be firmly on a downward path in Brazil and Peru. Yet the drop in Chilean... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Higher inflation has made the public finances worse Today’s data from the FSA showed that banks are picking up the pace at which they are compensating consumers for mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI). While the compensation will provide a... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update BoJ easing and explicit target is step in right direction We welcome today’s move by the Bank of Japan to expand its Asset Purchase Scheme and formalise its inflation target. Although these moves should help support the economy and ease tensions in financial... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Outlook Prices to drop sharply on euro break-up fears Most commodity prices made a strong start to 2012, helped by increasing hopes that the US will lead a strong recovery in the global economy, declining fears of a “hard landing” in China, and faith... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Indian inflation drops further The drop in inflation to 6.6% y/y in January results primarily from base effects and falling food prices. Nevertheless, there is sufficient evidence that underlying inflationary pressure has eased for... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Dec.), & German ZEW (Feb.) 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Consumer Prices (Jan.) January’s drop in inflation took it another step closer to the sub-2% rates that we expect to see by the end of the year. Indeed, this time next year, Mervyn King could be getting his pen out to write... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Jan.) Saudi Arabia’s headline inflation remained unchanged in January as a rise in housing (rent and utilities) inflation was offset by a moderation in food prices. 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Housing Survey & CLG House Prices (Jan/Dec) Housing sales may be receiving a moderate boost from the looming expiry of the latest stamp duty holiday in March. But today’s RICS survey showed that buyer enquiries dropped back in January. This... 14th February 2012 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Outlook The double-dip in property prices is here Capital values edged down in the final stages of 2011 and the weak macroeconomic outlook means that this will not be a blip. The economy will drop back into recession this year. And that will push IPD... 13th February 2012 · 1 min read
