Global Economics Update What’s behind US economic exceptionalism? Larger government stimulus during the pandemic and a higher propensity to run down “excess savings” have contributed to particularly strong growth in the US. On the other hand, a significant terms of... 27th February 2024 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update Is China exporting deflation? Deflation in China has added to disinflationary forces in the advanced economies as its export prices have fallen sharply. The direct impact has not been huge, accounting for only a small fraction of... 26th February 2024 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update PMIs point to stubborn price pressures in Europe Februarys’ flash PMI surveys suggest that economic activity improved in Europe at the start of this year. But services prices pressures remained elevated, especially in the UK and euro-zone, meaning... 22nd February 2024 · 2 mins read
Global Economics Update Can we still rely on the PMIs? The S&P Global PMI surveys have not been fully reliable guides to activity in major advanced economies over the past few years. But their relationship with GDP outside the US is still fairly strong... 21st February 2024 · 6 mins read
Global Economics Update Assessing the threat of a new bout of inflation We have argued that most of the inflation battle is already won and fears that “ the last mile will be the hardest” are overdone. But during our central bank online Drop-In session last week, clients... 7th February 2024 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update PMIs: Lengthening delivery times not too concerning The big picture from January’s manufacturing PMIs was the growing outperformance of industry in major EMs compared to their advanced economy peers. The surveys also highlighted that Red Sea... 1st February 2024 · 2 mins read
Global Economics Update Trade to be constrained more by demand than supply World goods trade looks to have had one of its weakest years in over 40 years in 2023. While shipping diversions may weigh on trade in the very near term, we think that they are unlikely to dent trade... 1st February 2024 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update PMIs suggest price pressures remain elevated January’s flash PMI surveys suggest that GDP growth in advanced economies ticked up from a very weak pace at the start of 2024. And with price pressures still strong, central banks will probably... 24th January 2024 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Update Are central banks’ hawkish tones to be believed? Central banks will probably continue to push back on expectations of rate cuts at their scheduled policy announcements in the coming weeks. But with inflation and wage pressures clearly moderating, we... 23rd January 2024 · 5 mins read
Global Economics Update What to make of the latest disruption in the Red Sea The redirecting of trade ships away from the Red Sea and the associated rise in shipping costs are unlikely to lead to a resurgence in global inflation. However, if the warfare underpinning the... 4th January 2024 · 5 mins read
Global Economics Update Weak PMIs suggest soft start for industry in 2024 Although the manufacturing PMIs have overstated the weakness of industry for a while, the big picture from December’s surveys was that global industrial activity was barely growing at the end of 2023... 2nd January 2024 · 3 mins read
Global Economics Update Shipping disruption unlikely to alter inflation’s course The rerouting of trade ships away from the Red Sea has come at a time of disruption to shipping elsewhere in the world, but it is unlikely to alter the broad pattern of falling core inflation in 2024... 21st December 2023 · 6 mins read
Long Run Update Which countries will struggle to shrink fiscal deficits? Most major DMs need to shrink their primary budget deficits significantly and, for various reasons, most are likely to find it hard to do so. This will exacerbate growing worries about fiscal... 20th December 2023 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update Union deals point to easing wage growth next year Some of the negotiations by trade unions and large firms in advanced economies over recent months have resulted in large pay rises of up to 10%. However, they have typically also locked in much... 18th December 2023 · 4 mins read
Global Economics Update Your questions after the latest central bank meetings We recently held an online Drop-In session to discuss the December policy meetings and the outlook for monetary policy in the year ahead. (See a recording here.) This Update answers several of the... 18th December 2023 · 5 mins read
Global Economics Update PMIs point to weaker activity and employment Although the flash PMIs ticked up in most cases in December, they suggest that advanced economies will start 2024 on a weak footing. Meanwhile, outside of the US, the subdued outlook for demand seems... 15th December 2023 · 3 mins read
