Europe Data Response Euro-zone Retail Sales (Feb.) & Final PMIs (Mar.) February’s retail sales data suggest that household spending growth picked up a bit in Q1. But the Composite PMI, together with other surveys, suggests that GDP growth might have slowed. 3rd April 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swiss Consumer Prices (Mar.) The slight pick-up in Swiss inflation in March does not change our view that the headline rate will fall back into negative territory in mid-2019 and that core price pressures will remain extremely... 2nd April 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash HICP (Mar.), Final Mfg PMIs (Mar.) March’s decline in euro-zone headline inflation was largely due to the timing of Easter, so the continued weakness in the manufacturing PMIs will be a bigger worry for the ECB. 1st April 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Mar.) The manufacturing PMIs for March provide further evidence that the Swiss and Swedish economies made a weak start to 2019. This underlines our view that policymakers there will be in no rush to tighten... 1st April 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swiss KOF Economic Barometer (Mar.) The sharp pick-up in the Swiss KOF Economic Barometer in March does not change our view that GDP growth in Switzerland will slow this year. However, it supports our forecast that the economy will hold... 29th March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response EC Business and Consumer Survey (Mar.) March’s decline in the euro-zone’s Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) adds to the evidence from other surveys that the economy has continued to lose momentum. And there is no sign that either the... 28th March 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swedish Economic Tendency Indicator (Mar.) The decline in the Swedish Economic Tendency Indicator (ETI) in March was not as bad as we had feared given the sharp fall in the euro-zone manufacturing PMI last week. But it is still consistent with... 27th March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Ifo Survey (Mar.) The Ifo Business Climate Index for March was a little better than expected, but it does not suggest that the German economy is out of the woods. 25th March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Mar.) The drop back in the euro-zone Composite PMI for March comes as a disappointment to those hoping that the economy was beginning to turn a corner. And far from easing, as many had anticipated, the... 22nd March 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Switzerland and Norway Policy Decisions (Mar.) Today’s decision by the Norges Bank, to raise its policy rate from 0.75% to 1.00%, came as no surprise, but policymakers struck a more hawkish tone than expected. While the Bank is now likely to... 21st March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Ireland’s GDP (Q4 2018) Ireland’s Q4 GDP data, released today, show that the economy slowed towards the end of last year. But timelier indicators suggest that, despite rising uncertainty about Brexit and the wider euro-zone... 14th March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Industrial Production (Jan.) The 1.4% increase in industrial production in January was a bit of a relief after the 0.9% fall in December, but it does not put an end to concerns about the euro-zone’s slowdown. The increase did not... 13th March 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Swedish Consumer Prices (Feb.) The fall in Swedish inflation in February lends further support to our view that the Riksbank will keep interest rates on hold at least into 2021. In fact, with core price pressures subdued, and a... 12th March 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Norwegian & Danish CPI (Feb.) The stronger-than-expected rise in core Norwegian inflation in February makes it all but certain that the Norges Bank will increase interest rates at its policy meeting later this month. However... 11th March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production (Jan.) January’s decline in industrial production adds to the evidence that the economy made a weak start to 2019. And timelier indicators suggest that output is unlikely to increase strongly in the coming... 11th March 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q4 2018, breakdown) The third estimate of euro-zone GDP in Q4 last year confirmed that the economy grew at only a moderate pace, and with the latest data fairly weak the ECB is certain to announce lower forecasts later... 7th March 2019 · 1 min read
