Europe Economics Update French business surveys point to weak economic recovery France’s economic outlook appears particularly uncertain at the moment, with the business surveys painting a mixed picture. But even the most positive of these surveys still points to fairly sluggish... 29th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update French tax breaks seem unlikely to revive investment Investment has been the weakest link in France’s feeble economic recovery so far. But it is not clear that the French Government’s latest plans will alter this picture dramatically. For that, a... 14th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response French & Spanish Industrial Production (Feb.) February’s French industrial data suggested that activity in the euro-zone’s second-largest economy may have gained a little pace at the start of 2015. And the healthy rise in Spanish production... 10th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Recovery prospects clouded by Greece Recent indicators have brought signs of a renewed recovery in the euro-zone economy, reflecting the beneficial effects of lower oil prices and the decline in the euro exchange rate. But the picture... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will weak French growth hold back property returns? The anaemic growth outlook for the French economy in 2015 and 2016 does not bode well for a recovery in occupier demand. But increased competition for the best space amongst both tenants and investors... 8th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Mar.) March’s further rise in the euro-zone composite PMI adds to the signs that the region’s economic recovery may have picked up a bit of pace in Q1. But growth remains pretty sluggish and France is still... 24th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update France will struggle to meet its new fiscal targets, again While France has been given an extra two years to meet its new budget targets set by Brussels, we think that it will still struggle to achieve the necessary fiscal consolidation given France’s... 16th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response French & Italian Industrial Production (Jan.) January’s French industrial data support the message from the German and Spanish releases that activity was expanding slowly at the start of the year. But the fall in Italian production suggests that... 10th March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Feb.) After consolidating their fiscal positions in 2014, the peripheral economies had a mixed start to 2015. Ireland and Italy both fared comparatively well but Portugal and Greece struggled. 3rd March 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Focus Paris offices: Gearing up for rental growth Although French employment growth is forecast to remain lethargic, the limited development pipeline and occupiers’ preference for modern, centrally-located space will drive an improvement in the... 26th February 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update French structural reform efforts welcome but insufficient The French Government’s decision yesterday to force its reform package through the lower house of Parliament showed a welcome political commitment to implement growth-boosting measures. But the bill... 18th February 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Grexit risks rising Several developments last week arguably brought Greece closer to exiting the euro-zone than it has ever been. While the Government appeared to give ground on its demands for debt restructuring, its... 6th February 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone Fiscal Monitor (Jan.) The latest fiscal data suggest that the peripheral economies continued to strengthen their budget positions at the end of last year. But many look set to have missed their 2014 targets and Greece’s... 6th February 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rise of populist parties unlikely to end austerity Syriza’s victory in the Greek general election may increase the influence of anti-austerity parties elsewhere in the euro-zone, most notably Podemos in Spain. But resistance from Germany seems set to... 27th January 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economic Outlook Crisis 2.0? The onset of deflation in the euro-zone and the recent developments in Greece have served as powerful reminders of the lasting effects of the region’s debt crisis. The ECB will seek to tackle... 20th January 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Lower oil prices unlikely to drive French retail recovery in 2015 With the outlook for French consumer spending still weak and flows of wealthy tourists unlikely to grow in the short-term, retail rents in Paris and Lyon are unlikely to experience particularly strong... 15th January 2015 · 1 min read
