UK Economics Chart Pack Squeeze on real pay intensifies September’s rise in retail sales volumes was a rare bright spot in an otherwise terrible set of consumer data released over the last month. Consumer confidence has remained at a very low level... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update After Gaddafi, what next for the ‘Arab Spring’? The fact that there was no market reaction to the death of Libya’s former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, is no surprise. That said, today’s events could reduce political risks in the Middle East and North... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
US Chart Pack Faster Q3 GDP growth won't be sustained Our latest calculations suggest that GDP growth accelerated to 3.2% annualised in the third quarter, more than double the rate in the second. The rebound in spending on motor vehicles as the Japanese... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Sep.) The modest fall in existing home sales in September shows that the housing market is struggling to gain any traction in this poor economic climate. In fact, it is hard to see home sales rising at all... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update Income streams unlikely to be immune to weak economic backdrop Over the next 12 to 18 months, we now expect IPD all-property rental values to decline. And there was little in the latest Lease Events Review from Strutt & Parker (S&P) and IPD to suggest that the... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Turkey: CBRT returns to orthodoxy Although the Turkish Central Bank (CBRT) kept the benchmark repo rate on hold, today’s MPC meeting marked a clear shift in its stance. Policymakers are no longer in easing mood are moving instead... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina set to re-elect Cristina, but what next? Opinion polls suggest that Cristina Fernández will easily secure a second term in this weekend’s Presidential Election. But what might the next few years hold for Argentina’s economy? 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Focus Sovereign Debt: are the emerging markets immune? Emerging markets are not immune from the deepening debt crisis in the developed world, but most are well-placed to deal with the fallout. China faces a difficult structural transition of its own but... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
UK Markets Chart Pack QE2 launch fails to boost UK markets The Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC’s) decision at the start of October to undertake £75bn of asset purchases by February has not yet provided much of a boost to UK markets. In 2009/10, QE reduced... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Interest rate cuts in the Philippines only a matter of time The central bank in the Philippines (BSP) left its policy rate on hold at 4.5% today, as expected. However, with inflation set to fall over the coming year, economic activity weak and fears... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Stability of Spanish office capital values won’t last much longer The stability of Spanish office capital values over the past two years does not preclude a second leg to the downturn. If anything, the prospects for office occupier demand and rental values have... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Is the house price correction about to pick up pace? Our forecasts already envisage that the pace of house price falls will increase next year. With most of the recent downgrade to our economic forecasts accounted for by the deteriorating prospects for... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil rate cuts not as risky as most assume Although last night’s cut in Brazilian interest rates was well anticipated and fully priced into the market, the decision will add to widespread concerns that policymakers have fallen behind the curve... 21st October 2011 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales (Sep.) September’s retail sales figures were a bit stronger than we and the consensus had expected, but hardly suggested that a recovery on the high street is now underway. 21st October 2011 · 1 min read