Canada Economics Weekly Debate on corporate tax rates warms up The debate surrounding the merits of corporate tax cuts continued last week, with the Globe and Mail running a front page headline that claimed the reductions already put in place hadn't boosted... 11th April 2011 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Will Q1 disappoint? In theory, GDP has the scope to rise pretty sharply in Q1, by over 1%. But the latest data suggests that the rebound might have been rather more modest than this. 11th April 2011 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Fed still a long way from raising rates Recent events have left our forecast that the Fed will not raise interest rates either this year or next out on a limb. But we are sticking to our guns. After all, this time last year a fading of the... 11th April 2011 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore set for more policy tightening Singapore’s GDP growth probably remained strong in Q1, keeping overheating as the main policy concern. With headline inflation remaining well above the central bank’s 3-4% target range, and wages... 11th April 2011 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Labour market slack remains high Despite recent signs of a pick up, the economy is still not growing rapidly enough to drive the unemployment significantly lower. In addition, average hours worked remains well below normal levels... 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
China Data Response NBS business conditions survey (Q1) The results of China’s largest quarterly business survey, released today, add to the pile of evidence that economic growth peaked at the end of 2010. There are tentative signs that growth is shifting... 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Labour Force Survey (Mar.) March's employment report was disappointing to everyone, with net employment edging lower by 1,500 jobs. Although the unemployment rate nudged lower, from 7.8% to 7.7%, this came about by way of fewer... 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Romania: Two speed ahead Romania’s recovery will be two-speed, with industrial output boosted by foreign demand (especially from Germany) while domestic demand will remain sluggish. We expect the central bank to keep rates on... 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Nudging up our forecast for Peruvian rates The fact that the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) raised interest rates by 25bps last night, rather than the 50bps that had seemed possible, suggests that policymakers will continue to tighten... 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Producer Prices (Mar.) March’s producer prices figures show that cost pressures in the manufacturing sector are continuing to build. But data on the construction sector suggest that the underlying strength of the recovery... 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers' Survey (Mar.) Today’s retail sales and unemployment data for February were better than expected and small business confidence was high in early March. These figures pre-date the full impact of the earthquake that... 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
Capital Daily Don't expect other major central banks to follow the ECB's lead 8th April 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Chart Pack Still in the doldrums The further fall in house prices at the end of last year has made housing look more under-valued relative to income than ever before. (See Chart below.) This appears to be attracting cash buyers and... 7th April 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update What does the ECB rate rise mean for European property? The ECB’s decision to raise interest rates was not a surprise, nor does it materially change the stillloose stance of monetary policy. That said, if nothing else, today’s move will focus investor... 7th April 2011 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update No rush to follow the ECB The ECB’s widely anticipated decision to raise rates for the euro-zone today does not make it more likely that monetary policy will be tightened in other major advanced economies any time soon. 7th April 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB keeping its options open Having raised interest rates from 1.0% to 1.25% as expected, the ECB kept its options open over the likely size and timing of future interest rate increases. For now, we still think that the Bank will... 7th April 2011 · 1 min read
