Emerging Europe Economics Update Ukraine: not on the brink, but the risks are still high The collapse of Ukraine’s government earlier today may paradoxically be a positive development, but a lot of progress still needs to be made before access to IMF funding is unfrozen. Accordingly... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Is the recovery in the labour market for real? Despite the scepticism of many, the recent declines in the unemployment rate in Japan are consistent with other evidence on the state of the labour market and the strong performance of the economy... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Turning point or short-term blip? (Mar 10) It is too soon to draw conclusions from the slump in most measures of housing market activity. But with the economic data still soft and each rise in house prices denting affordability, we think that... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Recovery prospects weaken Recent weeks have brought signs that the recovery in the euro-zone might have ground to a halt. Q4’s GDP release confirmed that the region expanded by just 0.1% on the quarter. (See Chart.) And recent... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Fiscal squeeze should eventually support the pound Fears that the general election will result in a hung parliament may continue to weigh on the pound in the coming weeks. But the prospect of a major fiscal squeeze under any form of government should... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Q4 GDP confirms Venezuela as region’s laggard 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Jan.) & Final PMI (Feb.) February’s final PMI survey suggests that the euro-zone economy is still expanding only slowly. And with retail sales falling again in January, the much-needed consumer recovery has yet to materialise... 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Data Response UK CIPS/Markit Report on Services (Feb.) February’s CIPS/Markit report on services suggested that, after the weather and VAT-related setback seen at the start of the year, the recovery in the biggest part of the economy is back on track. 3rd March 2010 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Poland: surge in exports boosts Q4 GDP Q4 Polish GDP data released this morning confirmed an earlier preliminary estimate that the economy grew by 1.7% in 2009 and by 3.1% y/y in the final quarter of last year. But while Poland should... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update New Greek measures may open door to firmer support The news that the Greek Government will tomorrow announce further measures to reduce its budget deficit raises hope that it will receive the firmer support from the rest of the euro-zone it requires... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Battle heats up in fight over Argentine FX reserves 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Hope for a Swedish occupier and investment market recovery fade Q4’s dreadful GDP data for Sweden may have pushed back any recovery in commercial property occupier demand and rental values. Together with the prospect of a rising level of distressed sales, we also... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack MPC pauses – but not for long The Monetary Policy Committee voted to pause its programme of quantitative easing (QE) at its latest meeting. But both the Inflation Report - showing inflation undershooting its target further ahead -... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australian policy rates set to rise again in May The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised its cash rate to 4.00% today, as expected. GDP growth is returning to trend and could even be there already, while core inflation is above target. Policy... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
