Europe Economics Focus How vulnerable are Spanish banks to a property crash? The Spanish banking system looks in relatively good health compared to those of some other eurozone economies. Nonetheless, a major adjustment in the domestic property sector could still cause banks... 27th May 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Housing and the credit crunch in Europe There are growing concerns that the credit crunch could trigger a sharp downturn in European housing markets with significant adverse effects on the wider economy. But while euro-zone house price... 17th April 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Ireland: After the party… Recent news on the Irish economy has supported our view that expectations of a relatively soft landing after the boom of the last decade are too optimistic. We now expect the economy to grow by just 1... 3rd April 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus France to outshine Germany this year With the export-driven recovery in Germany faltering as global demand weakens, a healthy consumer sector should stand France in good stead to make up ground on its larger neighbour. While German GDP... 3rd March 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus How hard will it rain in Spain? Most commentators are agreed that the Spanish economy is heading for a slowdown. But we think the “consensus” forecast of a relatively soft landing is too optimistic. We expect a major downturn in the... 14th February 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus How are German consumers feeling? Recent surveys of consumer sentiment have suggested that German consumers are in schizophrenic mood. While they remain pretty upbeat about the economic outlook, they have yet to translate that into... 15th January 2008 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus How far will the ECB lag behind? The markets and most forecasters believe that the European Central Bank will sit on its hands and leave euro-zone interest rates unchanged throughout 2008 while the US Fed and UK MPC both loosen... 5th December 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus How far can the euro-zone de-couple from the US? The European and US economies have moved closely together over recent decades, with most major slowdowns in the US followed by an even deeper or more protracted downturn in Europe. But there are some... 3rd December 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus What has the euro done for the euro-zone? The euro cannot be blamed for relatively weak economic growth in the euro-zone, or for the region’s difficulties competing in international markets. But neither has it brought the vast benefits that... 29th November 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Core inflation dangers greater this time? Rising food and energy prices look set to prompt another period of high headline inflation in the euro-zone like that seen between 2004 and 2006. But with the economy operating closer to capacity, the... 15th November 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Is stronger euro-zone productivity growth here to stay? The evidence suggests that the recent pick-up in euro-zone productivity growth was probably a temporary reflection of the cyclical strength of the economy rather than a permanent or structural... 22nd October 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Onward and upward for the euro-zone? Amid rising concerns regarding economic imbalances around the world, the euro-zone stands out as a relatively well-balanced economy. Accordingly, while growth looks set to slow over the next year or... 11th October 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Measured fiscal leniency will boost French growth Recent moves towards granting France a little leniency around the EC’s strict fiscal rules suggest that the economy could receive a significant fiscal boost, over the next few years at least. We think... 1st August 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Can euro-zone consumers take the baton? If US consumers have been the driving force behind the world economy over the last decade or so, then European consumers might perhaps be described as a sleeping giant. But the giant could be about to... 22nd May 2007 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Europe's demographic time bomb On the face of it, the impact of demographic change on the euro-zone economy could be pretty disastrous. But with higher immigration flows, an older retirement age, an increase in the employment rate... 11th May 2007 · 1 min read
