Europe Commercial Property Update What do competitiveness rankings tell us about property pricing? There is a decent correlation between economic competitiveness and property pricing across Europe. Yet while some markets look mispriced based on this comparison, that’s partly explained by the fact... 5th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Aug.) & Final PMIs (Sep.) August’s euro-zone retail sales data suggest that the consumer recovery remained on track. And the final PMIs point to quarterly GDP growth remaining at around 0.4% in Q3. But September’s monthly fall... 5th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly How did the euro-zone economy perform in Q3? The hard data available so far for Q3, as well as the more timely activity surveys, suggest that the economy performed fairly well last quarter. GDP growth probably maintained its pace from Q2 and may... 2nd October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Is the consumer recovery running out of steam? The consumer outlook has dimmed slightly over the summer, suggesting that the economic recovery needs to become more broad-based if it is to gain momentum. The Q2 GDP breakdown showed that the... 1st October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Is rising supply a threat to Central European industrial rental values? Buoyed by strong economic conditions, industrial occupiers in Central Europe are expanding, leading to falling vacancy and rising rents. However, supply is responding. We expect this to curb rental... 1st October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Current account adjustments not just cyclical The improvement in most peripheral countries’ current account positions since the financial crisis should not be fully reversed as their economies recover. However, if and when Greece returns to... 1st October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Sep.) The euro-zone’s peripheral economies appear to have strengthened their fiscal positions further in the year to August. But for most, this year’s budget targets still look ambitious. 30th September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Icelandic interest rates on hold, but more hikes to come Today’s decision by Iceland’s central bank to leave its main interest rates on hold merely marks a pause for breath in its tightening cycle. We think that further rate rises will be needed before the... 30th September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Sep.) & Unemployment (Aug.) The return of inflation to negative territory in the euro-zone, as well as the continued high rate of unemployment, will heap further pressure on the ECB to increase its stimulus. 30th September 2015 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Icelandic interest rates on hold, but more hikes to come Today’s decision by Iceland’s central bank to leave its main interest rates on hold merely marks apause for breath in its tightening cycle. We think that further rate rises will be needed before the... 30th September 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Will China fuel a recovery in German automobile shares? While the emissions scandal has been responsible for the recent plunge in the share price of Volkswagen Group, the bigger picture is that the share prices of German car manufacturers have been sliding... 29th September 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Brexit would allow a more sensible migration policy It is generally assumed that a UK exit from the EU would lead to a sharp drop in migration, reducing the pool of labour and undermining economic growth. However, a Brexit could lead to a more sensible... 29th September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Flash CPI (Sep.) September’s drop in inflation back below zero for the first time since January highlights that price pressures are very subdued and will add to pressure on the ECB to increase its policy support. 29th September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Portugal’s next Government will have its work cut out This weekend’s general election in Portugal looks set to be a close contest with a minority government currently appearing the most likely outcome. But whichever party ends up on top, it faces an... 29th September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response EC Business & Consumer Survey (Sep.) September’s EC business and consumer survey suggests that the economic recovery maintained its pace in Q3. But growth was still fairly slow and we think that the ECB will need to increase its stimulus... 29th September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rising Italian confidence not enough to secure recovery The high level of consumer and business confidence in September added to the recent run of positive data coming from Italy. But strong confidence alone will not be enough to secure a sustained... 28th September 2015 · 1 min read