Europe Economics Update What to make of the Franco-German fiscal proposal The €500bn EU joint fiscal package suggested by France and Germany would be a significant move towards fiscal union. However, the benefit to the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus crisis... 19th May 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Data Response French, Spanish & Austrian GDP (Q1) Lockdown measures to contain the coronavirus caused unprecedented quarterly contractions in GDP in France and Spain in Q1. And with the restrictions set to remained unchanged until mid-May and then be... 30th April 2020 · 2 mins read
Europe Economics Update How quickly will euro-zone activity return to normal? Although restrictions are set to be lifted in the coming weeks, economic activity in the euro-zone will remain significantly below pre-virus levels for a long period. Consumers are likely to be wary... 29th April 2020 · 5 mins read
Europe Economics Update Bank of France floats a version of helicopter money The Bank of France floated the idea recently that the ECB could use “helicopter money” to channel funds to companies after the worst of the current crisis has abated. While this idea has some... 15th April 2020 · 4 mins read
Europe Economics Update French statisticians think GDP down 35% Measuring the economic fallout from the coronavirus is fraught with uncertainty, but the French statistics office estimates that economic activity is currently running a whopping 35% below normal. If... 26th March 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Data Response France Bus. Conf. (Mar.) & German Cons. Conf. (Apr.) The largest-ever fall in French business confidence in March leaves the survey pointing to a severe slump in activity at the end of Q1. But the reality is almost certainly much worse than this. 26th March 2020 · 2 mins read
Europe Economic Outlook ECB to keep pushing on a string We expect economic growth to remain sluggish this year as external demand picks up only slowly and domestic demand softens. Employment growth is slowing, which will cause household incomes and... 21st January 2020 · 30 mins read
Europe Economics Update France a European bright spot despite slower growth The French economy is likely to continue to perform reasonably well this year as solid consumer spending growth partly offsets fiscal tightening and a slowdown in investment. Moreover, the pensions... 9th January 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update Five key questions about the French pensions reform The planned reforms to France’s retirement schemes that have provoked strikes and protests this month are important to put the country’s pensions and public finances on a more sustainable footing. But... 20th December 2019 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Focus France labour market progress not due to reforms French President Emmanuel Macron’s emphasis on overhauling France’s ailing labour market is long overdue. But while there are signs that the changes are starting to take effect, the labour market... 17th December 2019 · 13 mins read
Europe Economics Update Bigger problems in France’s labour market than strikes France’s public sector strikes will probably dampen economic activity this quarter, but experience from previous, similar walkouts suggests that the hit to GDP will be small. Moreover, while protests... 6th December 2019 · 3 mins read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone EC Survey (Oct) & France GDP (Q3) The decline in the euro-zone Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in October adds to the evidence that the economy started Q4 on weak footing. 30th October 2019 · 2 mins read
Europe Commercial Property Update Paris office yields to fall another 20bps by end-2020 As valuations have improved this year and investors have become willing to accept lower yields, demand for quality Paris assets has ballooned, most likely driving a record year for French investment... 23rd October 2019 · 3 mins read
Europe Commercial Property Update Limited upward movement in Paris prime retail rents While Paris prime retail rents rose in 2018, we doubt this marks the start of a prolonged upward trend. With tourist flows set to stagnate due to a weak global economy, rents will not rise by much... 9th October 2019 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update French fiscal policy to be tighter in 2020 The giveaways to households and firms announced by French finance minister Bruno Le Maire yesterday do not alter the fact that there will be a tightening in France’s fiscal stance in 2020. Indeed, the... 27th September 2019 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update French industry looks resilient to German slowdown We expect French industrial production growth to slow in the coming year or so. But it should continue to outperform German industry thanks to its focus on less cyclical products such as food, energy... 18th September 2019 · 3 mins read
