Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (May) & Final Comp. PMI (Jun.) May’s drop in euro-zone retail sales provided further evidence that the intensifying effects of the fiscal squeeze will leave consumers with little chance of taking up the reins as the external and... 6th July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Greek plan won’t end the periphery’s problems The risk of an imminent Greek disaster appears to have eased after the Greek parliament passed the crucial medium-term fiscal bill last week. But European policymakers’ inability to deal with the... 5th July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Unemployment (May) Growth in remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to the Philippines has slowed since the 2008-09 global crisis. However, we believe that remittances growth is likely to stabilise rather than... 2nd July 2011 · 1 min read
ECB Watch Rates going up, but will ECB approve Greek deal? The ECB seems certain to deliver the pre-signalled interest rate hike to 1.5% at its July policy meeting. Accordingly, the key interest will be in what clues, if any, it gives on the likely path of... 1st July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI & German Unemployment (Jun.) June’s euro-zone CPI inflation figures are likely to prompt the ECB to maintain a pretty hawkish tone at next week’s press conference. 1st July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Monetary Indicators Monitor (Jun.) The latest data show that euro-zone money and credit growth remain subdued, supporting the view that CPI inflation will fall below the ECB’s target as the boost from energy and food subsides. While a... 1st July 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Jun.) While plans for a Greek debt roll-over and a second bail-out should ease immediate default concerns and funding pressures, Greece is still struggling to rein in its budget deficit, highlighting the... 30th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Jun.) June’s EC business and consumer survey dealt a further blow to hopes that sustained strong growth in the euro-zone’s core economies might help to ease the crisis in the periphery. 30th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Jun.) The sharp fall in the flash euro-zone PMI in June provides further signs that the underlying pace of GDP growth is slowing, making it increasingly likely that a bout of strong growth will not solve... 24th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Trade Balance (Apr.) April’s euro-zone trade data do nothing to alter our view that the external recovery in the region has passed its peak. With domestic demand set to remain weak, we expect GDP growth to slow sharply in... 18th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone CPI (Final, May) & Employment (Q1) May’s small fall in euro-zone CPI inflation is unlikely to prevent the ECB from hiking interest rates again in July. But with Q1’s weak employment figures supporting our view that domestic demand will... 17th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Apr.) April’s euro-zone industrial production figures supported the view that the recovery in the wider economy has peaked and that growth may slow quite sharply in Q2 . 16th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP Breakdown (Q1) The breakdown of euro-zone Q1 GDP provided some support to our view that the pace of recovery in the region peaked in the first quarter and that growth is likely to be materially slower in Q2 and... 8th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Apr.) April’s pick-up in euro-zone retail sales may look like an encouraging sign that euro-zone consumers are defying the fiscal squeeze. But the bounce is likely to have been a one-off boosted by Easter... 7th June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (May) While Spain has made good progress in reducing its central government budget deficit this year, its growing regional deficits are a cause for concern. Meanwhile, the Greek and Irish deficits are still... 1st June 2011 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI & Unemployment (May/Apr.) May’s slight drop in euro-zone CPI inflation is unlikely to prompt the ECB to tone down its hawkishness. Interest rates are set to rise again in July. 31st May 2011 · 1 min read