UK Housing Market Chart Pack No sign of housing market pick-up The past month has brought no evidence that the current housing market soft patch is coming to an end. Mortgage approvals are down compared to a year ago, while house price growth remains at low... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Minimum wage hikes are a storm in a teacup Minimum wage hikes this year won’t have significant consequences for the broader economy or inflation, nor do they change the interest rate outlook one way or the other. As we have warned before, the... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Investment boom should continue in 2018 Business investment enjoyed a strong resurgence last year, particularly in the second half. Our estimates imply that business investment increased by 7.5% annualised in the fourth quarter, the biggest... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Brussels simmering, but Antwerp retail on the boil Rising consumer prosperity and confidence in Belgium will support decent retailer activity in the next couple of years. However, plentiful supply in Brussels will keep rental growth subdued, allowing... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack World economy entering 2018 on a firm footing Global activity indicators suggest that the world economy ended 2017 on a very strong note. We expect this strength to continue in the near term, helped by a steady rise in employment and supportive... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Labour Force Survey (Dec.) & Trade (Nov.) The solid 78,600 increase in employment in December and the drop in the unemployment rate to 5.7%, from 5.9%, suggest that the domestic economy is coping well with recent increases in interest rates... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
US Data Response Employment Report (Dec.) & Internat’l Trade (Nov.) The slightly disappointing 148,000 gain in non-farm payrolls in December will not prevent the Fed from continuing to normalise interest rates, with the next hike probably coming in March. 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly A solid end to 2017 Recent evidence suggests that high-street spending has provided decent support to GDP growth in Q4. Admittedly, a weaker performance off the high street suggests that overall quarterly consumer... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro’s strength not yet a major concern The main news for the euro-zone economy at the year’s outset has been the further appreciation of the euro. While this might seem like a major headwind to the economy’s upturn, we remain optimistic... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Energy Update Oil will struggle to hold on to its gains A combination of falling US stocks, mounting geopolitical risk and OPEC’s deal to extend its output cuts has pushed the price of oil higher in recent weeks. However, we think that rising non-OPEC... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Brazil Industrial Production (Nov.) November’s 0.2% m/m rise in Brazilian industrial production was the third consecutive monthly expansion, and the latest survey data indicate that conditions in the sector should continue to improve... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update Aluminium still in comfortable supply Aluminium production in China is likely to continue to fall over the next few months as the Chinese authorities impose output cuts. While this would give the impression of a tighter market, Shanghai... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Dec.) With euro-zone headline inflation falling in December and core inflation still subdued, the ECB will continue to emphasise that interest rate hikes remain a long way off. 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Inflation set to jump We expect consumer price inflation to surge over the coming months on the back of a spike in food price inflation. However, with core inflation probably close to a peak and producer price inflation... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Inflation set to accelerate again We think that consumer price inflation rose again in December, due to an acceleration in both food and fuel inflation. Core price pressures are also continuing to build, which could prompt the Reserve... 5th January 2018 · 1 min read