Global Economics Update Central banks indicate rising risk of near-term hikes We recently hosted an online Drop-In session to review the latest Fed, ECB and Bank of England decisions and what their communications imply for the future. (Recording available here.) This Update... 1st May 2026 · 6 mins read
UK Economics Weekly Three key points when swimming in a sea of scenarios Energy prices are currently a bit higher than those incorporated into our baseline scenario and the Bank of England’s scenarios A and B, which increases the chances of the Bank of England raising... 1st May 2026 · 4 mins read
UK Commercial Property Rapid Response Lending to UK commercial property (Mar. 26) Net lending to commercial property rose sharply in March, reaching £2.5bn. Given that was the first full month following the start of the Iran war, on first glance the strength of the data come as a... 1st May 2026 · 2 mins read
UK Economics Rapid Response UK Money & Lending (Mar. 2026) March’s money and lending figures imply households may be willing to absorb some of the blow to their real incomes caused by the leap in energy prices by borrowing more and saving a smaller share of... 1st May 2026 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Weekly Central Europe’s resilience, Polish inflation overshoots The April survey data for Central Europe published this week suggest that the region is weathering the early effects of the Iran war better than the euro-zone. But the surveys also point to a sharp... 1st May 2026 · 6 mins read
UK Housing Market Rapid Response UK Nationwide House Prices (Apr. 2026) The surprisingly strong rise in the Nationwide measure of house prices in April shows that house prices have continued to gain momentum despite the falls in consumer confidence and the rise in... 1st May 2026 · 2 mins read
Emerging Markets Financial Risk Monitor EM Financial Risk Monitor (Apr. 2026) Our proprietary EM financial risk indicators show that economic and financial vulnerabilities in most EMs were low coming into the energy shock. Our aggregate EM currency crisis risk indicator remains... 30th April 2026 · 8 mins read
Capital Daily Policymakers do their part, but oil prices still driving bond markets Policymakers talking (and, in Japan, acting) tough may help to shore up market confidence and buy time until a resolution to the crisis in the Gulf materialises. But financial markets remain in large... 30th April 2026 · 4 mins read
UK Commercial Property Update RICS survey points to higher UK property yields from Iran war The Q1 RICS survey showed surveyors don’t expect the Iran conflict to have an impact on occupier demand across any of the major sectors. That said, there was a deterioration in capital value... 30th April 2026 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Focus China’s rising trade surplus and its global implications China’s trade surplus has reached a record 1% of world GDP and looks set to rise further. It’s been driven, in part, by a surge in China’s exports – China has gained export market share across both... 30th April 2026 · 18 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Romania: political turmoil adds to rebalancing challenge The vote of no confidence in Romania’s Prime Minister next week looks set to usher in renewed political instability. That will make it much harder to pass the fiscal austerity needed to tackle the... 30th April 2026 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update Lagarde prepares the ground for rate hikes While today’s decision to leave the ECB deposit rate at 2.0% was expected, President Lagarde used the press conference to signal that interest rates will rise. Unless there is a big drop-back in... 30th April 2026 · 3 mins read
UK Economics Update BoE on hold for now, but rate hike risks are rising The Bank of England’s further hawkish tilt while leaving interest rates unchanged at 3.75% suggests the chances of near-term rate hikes are rising. If oil prices fall back to about $95pb as in our... 30th April 2026 · 3 mins read
Europe Rapid Response ECB Policy Announcement (April 2026) While the ECB’s decision to leave its deposit rate unchanged at 2.0% today was expected and the monetary policy statement gives little away, the chances of rate hikes later this year appear to be... 30th April 2026 · 2 mins read
UK Economics Rapid Response Bank of England Policy Announcement (30th Apr. 2026) The Bank of England’s hawkish tilt around its decision to leave rates unchanged at 3.75% suggests the chances of near-term rate hikes are rising. If oil prices fall back to around $95pb as we expect... 30th April 2026 · 3 mins read
Europe Rapid Response Euro-zone GDP (Q1 2026) & HICP (April 2026) The euro-zone economy lost a little pace even before the Iran war began , and the business surveys point to stagnation at the start of Q2. Meanwhile, the pick-up in inflation in April reflected higher... 30th April 2026 · 2 mins read
