Europe Economics Update Deflation could undermine fiscal consolidation Worries about euro-zone fiscal plans have centred mainly on governments’ overly optimistic forecasts for real GDP growth. But weaker inflation could also pose a problem for the region’s public... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Which matters more – gross or net debt? The quarterly Flow of Funds data published by the Bank of Japan today shed a little more light on several hot topics, including households’ holdings of government securities and the huge difference... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Hungarian consumer sector to remain under pressure Despite the recent improvement in Hungarian retail sales and wage data, domestic demand will continue to weigh on growth in the near-term. All told, we expect the economy to contract once again this... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Chart Pack Investment market rebound resumes; yields set to fall further (Apr 10) The outlook for the real economy remains subdued. Although consumer spending grew in Q4 2009, high household debt levels and the weak labour market point to very little scope for further strong gains... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update New lending targets will make little difference The Chancellor appears set to announce new lending targets for the partly-nationalised banks RBS and Lloyds Group in his Budget tomorrow. However, the chances of the new targets significantly... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response UK Consumer Prices (Feb.) February’s consumer prices figures should provide some reassurance that, beneath the various special factors that have affected inflation in recent months, underlying price pressures in the UK economy... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response BBA Mortgage Lending (Feb.) Mortgage lending remained in the doldrums in February. While a strong rebound in March cannot be ruled out, the data raise further question marks about whether January’s dip reflected one-off factors... 23rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Thailand political risks contained, but for how long? The government will probably continue to hold the upper hand in Thailand’s street protests and a compromise is increasingly likely which will involve early elections. But a new vote may not end the... 22nd March 2010 · 1 min read
China Activity Monitor Activity slowdown argues against rapid tightening The Capital Economics China Activity Proxy (CAP) shows that activity remains strong in y/y terms. However, in the q/q terms that matter more, the pace of growth has almost halved. 22nd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Just what is a “credible plan” for the public finances? It has become almost a cliché to talk of the need for a “credible” medium-term plan for the public finances. But what should such a plan look like, when might it appear and what impact might it have? 22nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Official data still overstating Argentine growth 22nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Is the world heading for the wrong sort of bank levy? 22nd March 2010 · 1 min read
