Europe Economics Update Dutch ado about nothing? The next Dutch government is likely to be a centre-right coalition with a broadly similar stance towards the EU as before and a slightly looser fiscal policy. But the balance of power in the... 16th March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Prod. (Jan.) & German ZEW (Mar.) January’s rise in euro-zone industrial production did not reverse December’s fall and, together with earlier retail sales data, suggests that the message from the business surveys that growth gained... 14th March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Will the ECB change course if growth stays strong? ECB President Mario Draghi last week reiterated the plan to buy assets throughout this year and keep interest rates at or below current levels for an extended period. But he also explained that... 10th March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update ECB committed to loose policy despite healthy growth The ECB today reiterated its commitment to buying assets throughout this year and keeping interest rates at current or lower levels for an extended period. While the Bank believes that downside risks... 9th March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Surveys point to a strong Q1 Survey data for February suggest that euro-zone GDP growth accelerated in Q1 following two healthy quarterly gains of 0.4% in the second half of last year. After February’s rise, the PMI pointed to an... 7th March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP Expenditure Breakdown (Q4) The final estimate of euro-zone GDP in Q4 showed that growth was driven mainly by household spending. But with rising energy inflation now weighing on households’ real income growth, we expect the... 7th March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Feb.) The European Commission recently released new forecasts agreeing with our view that the peripheral economies will miss their fiscal deficit targets again this year. While bond yields dropped back in... 6th March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus What if Italy left the euro-zone? If Italy left the euro-zone, we think that its new currency would depreciate by about 30% against the euro. In the year or so following its exit, the economy would probably contract sharply, but we... 3rd March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Rise in inflation expectations won’t upend ECB’s plans The recent strength of activity surveys, as well as increases in headline inflation and inflation expectations, are all good news for the ECB. But for now, we doubt that this will be enough to sway... 3rd March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Italy GDP (Q4), Euro-zone Retail Sales (Jan.) & Final PMIs (Feb.) Retail sales fell again in January and quarterly growth is likely to be weak in Q1. While Italy’s economy slowed in Q4, the PMI points to a pick-up this quarter. 3rd March 2017 · 1 min read
ECB Watch ECB to treat growth pick-up with caution The recent run of positive data may lead the ECB to judge that downside risks to the economic outlook have receded when it meets next week. But core inflation has remained low despite the rise in the... 2nd March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Feb.), PPI & Unemployment (Jan.) February’s rise in euro-zone inflation to the ECB’s 2% price stability ceiling reflected temporary energy and food effects. With core inflation set to remain subdued, we think that the ECB’s plans to... 2nd March 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Outlook Rental growth to start driving relative market performance We see euro-zone GDP growth slowing this year due to the drag from higher inflation and political uncertainty. With no monetary policy tightening on the horizon, further falls in prime yields will... 27th February 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response EC Business & Consumer Survey (Feb.) February’s EC business and consumer survey suggests that political uncertainty has yet to damage euro-zone growth, which appears to have accelerated at the start of the year. 27th February 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jan.) January’s euro-zone money and credit data point to steady economic growth. But they still suggest that core inflation will remain very weak. 27th February 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Euro-zone PMIs consistent with stronger growth Last week’s PMI survey brought some more good news for the euro-zone economy. Accordingly, due to expectations of stronger growth in Q1, we have revised up our GDP forecast for 2017. While the survey... 24th February 2017 · 1 min read
