Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Sep.) September’s data show that a sharp fall in food price inflation helped to offset a rise in Egypt’s house price inflation. Accordingly, headline inflation fell for the fourth consecutive month... 11th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update IMF aid crucial to heading off an external financing crisis North Africa’s hefty external financing requirements, coupled with turmoil in the global financial markets, have increased the risk that the region could be hit by a balance of payments crisis... 7th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Will the 'Arab Spring' bring economic transformation? The recent political turmoil, the so-called ‘Arab Spring’, could ultimately lead to a marked acceleration in economic growth for some parts of the Arab World. Egypt, Morocco and, to a lesser extent... 4th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Growth forecasts cut for 2012 Following recent downward revisions to our forecasts for growth across the developed and emerging markets, we have also cut our forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We now... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack The Arab World’s banks can weather the global crisis The Arab World’s banks are better prepared to face any fallout from the global sovereign debt problems than they were during the financial crisis in 2008. Back then, the region’s financial... 21st September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt needs the IMF to avoid an external funding crisis Fresh concerns that Egypt could face a fiscal and external funding crisis over the next three years have pushed the country back to the IMF. In June, Egypt turned its back on offers of help from... 16th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Aug.) August’s data show that a sharp fall in food price inflation helped to push headline inflation in Egypt down to its lowest level since the end of 2007. Core inflation also fell. But, due to concerns... 13th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Too early to expect a strong rebound in the Egyptian economy The preliminary data from Egypt suggest that GDP grew by 1.8% y/y in the 2010/11 fiscal year (which runs from July to June). The output data (if not revised when more details are released on the 22nd)... 9th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Are the Gulf States at risk from their exposure to the US? We think that the much-reported risks to the value of the foreign assets held by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from the US economic troubles are overstated. Admittedly, the hydrocarbon... 7th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s unemployment set to stay in double digits until 2013 Egypt’s second quarter unemployment data, in keeping with other industrial indicators, reflect the poor overall state of the economy. Although the jobless rate appears to have levelled off (at just... 31st August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egyptian rates to stay on hold for the foreseeable future There were no surprises from Egypt’s Central Bank today as the benchmark interest rate was left unchanged at a record low of 8.25%. With the economy still weak, and core inflation (the bank’s... 26th August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What next for Libya? The Libyan economy may begin to feel the benefits of ‘regime change’ sooner than many commentators expect. Given the composition of the Transitional National Council (TNC) and Libya’s vast financial... 23rd August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Price pressures have eased in the Gulf Inflation pressures are easing in most countries in the Middle East. In the oil-rich Gulf States, despite a rapid rise in food inflation over the past two months, subdued housing costs have eased... 20th August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Tunisia and Morocco are most at risk from the euro-zone crisis It goes without saying that the risks to North Africa’s economies from the deepening crisis in the euro-zone have increased in recent weeks. The EU is the major trading partner and source of tourism... 12th August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Jul.) July’s data show that a slowdown in food inflation helped to ease overall consumer price pressures in Egypt. But core inflation (which is the Central Bank’s preferred measure for setting interest... 11th August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook Despite a weak global economy, the Gulf is set to grow The high oil price and increased production will ensure continued healthy revenues in the oil-rich Gulf States. As a result, government spending is likely to increase further, which will ensure that... 30th July 2011 · 1 min read
