Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi economy slows further, but non-oil sector faring better Our GDP Tracker suggests that Saudi Arabia’s economy continued to slow in February on the back of oil production cuts. On a more positive note, the recovery in the non-oil sector has strengthened and... 26th April 2017 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Apr.) While the decline in small business confidence in April can largely be attributed to seasonal patterns, the survey remains consistent with a stagnation in industrial output. What’s more, there are no... 26th April 2017 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Consumer Prices (Q1) Underlying inflation in Australia is by no means strong but, when coupled with the RBA’s financial stability concerns, it doesn’t appear to be weak enough to prompt the RBA to cut interest rates... 26th April 2017 · 1 min read
Global Trade Monitor World trade momentum carries over into Q2 Although the CPB’s latest figures suggest that world trade volumes fell in February, these estimates are often subject to hefty revisions, and the three-month average growth rate remains quite... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
US Data Response Conference Board Consumer Confidence (Apr.) The small fall in the Conference Board measure of consumer confidence in April only partly reversed the surge in March, and left the index close to a 16-year high. As such, it does little to change... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Case-Shiller Prices / New Home Sales (Feb./Mar.) The pace of house price gains slowed in February according to Case-Shiller, with the smallest month-on-month rise since July last year. But a strong rise in new home sales in March has pushed down... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update EM inflation remains close to eight-year low EM inflation remained at close to an eight-year low last month, driven in large part by weakening price pressures in the BRIC economies. Inflation has been on the rise in most other EMs, although not... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update China’s metals imports likely to remain subdued China’s trade data for March depict a relatively weak picture for metals demand. While in some cases imports picked up in the first quarter, we think that optimism about demand rather than strong... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Prime Lisbon office rents set for a new upward phase With Portugal’s economy starting to recovery, we expect prime Lisbon office rents to begin a sustained shift higher, supported by rising occupier demand and a limited development pipeline. 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Will retailers and restaurants drag the economy under? The acceleration in the pace of retail bankruptcies reflects a structural shift to online sales, while the weakness of restaurant sales is partly due to lower grocery prices. 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response China and India’s gold imports (Mar.) The latest trade data show a sharp rise in gold imports in China and India in March. While demand in India picked up ahead of the Akshaya Tritiya festival, Chinese buyers probably took advantage of... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Ghana: A key African growth star in 2017 Ghana’s new government inherited an economy that was already turning the corner. After years of underperformance, growth in Ghana will accelerate sharply in 2017. 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Public Finances (Mar.) March’s public sector finances figures confirmed the large fall in borrowing that the OBR expected for the 2016-17 fiscal year. However, with much of the drop due to temporary factors, borrowing will... 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Update US natural gas prices to rise despite cooler summer Even with slightly lower-than-expected domestic demand this year, higher exports and lower supply should be enough to put some upward pressure on US natural gas prices. 25th April 2017 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Monetary policy drives divergence in bond yields Moves in Latin America’s currency and equity markets this month have been relatively small but the divergent paths of government bond yields have been more eye-catching. While short-term local... 24th April 2017 · 1 min read
