China Activity Monitor Recovery still finding its feet China’s economy is recovering, but the Capital Economics China Activity Proxy (CAP) points to a less emphatic rebound than some recent commentary might suggest. Data available so far are consistent... 20th December 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update EM inflation drops to near-three-year low Emerging Market (EM) inflation slowed to a near-three-year low in November. Fears of a food-led inflation shock this year have proved to be misplaced, as we had expected. While inflation is likely to... 20th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update The view from the ground - Q4 2012 Business confidence in China has recovered slightly though it remains subdued. Banks are eager to lend but firms show little appetite for loans. Meanwhile, households are increasingly optimistic and... 18th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Hong Kong's low unemployment no support for domestic demand Hong Kong’s unemployment rate remains low despite the weak economy, as employers have responded to falling demand by cutting wage growth. The result has been a slowdown in consumption. Even if... 18th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Reform expectations raised for 2013 China’s new leadership has raised expectations for economic policy reform in 2013 but, judging from the outcome of the Economic Work Conference that just concluded in Beijing, it has not yet decided... 17th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update The US fiscal cliff: implications for Asia The nightmare scenario of the US Congress failing to reach a deal on the fiscal cliff would see growth in Asia’s most trade-dependent countries slow by up to 1 percentage point in 2013. 17th December 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Chart Pack Another tough year in 2013 Emerging markets (EMs) have endured their most difficult year since the global recession of 2009. GDP appears to have expanded by about 4.8% this year, down from an average of over 6% during the past... 17th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Data Response HSBC/Markit Flash Manufacturing PMI (Dec. 12) Today’s upbeat flash manufacturing PMI from HSBC and Markit suggests that China’s recovery is continuing in the last few weeks of 2012. But a high level of inventories is continuing to weigh on output... 14th December 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor Export recovery is uneven and lacks strength The recovery in emerging market exports remains uneven, with manufacturing economies, mainly in Asia, continuing to outperform commodity exporters. What’s more, there are already some signs that the... 14th December 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update A better start to Q4 but Emerging Europe still struggling Our EM GDP Tracker suggests that emerging market growth has accelerated a little in the final quarter of this year. But growth remains subdued by the standards of the past decade and the recent... 13th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update First test of new leadership's appetite for reform The release later this month of government proposals to reduce income inequality will provide early evidence of whether a change of leadership in Beijing has given new momentum to economic reform. The... 13th December 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Exports to euro-zone to remain a source of EM weakness Weak demand from the euro-zone accounts for about two-fifths of the decline in emerging market GDP growth over the past year or so, and the drag looks set to intensify as Europe slides into an even... 12th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Data Response Lending and total social financing (Nov.) Today’s lending data released by the People’s Bank support the view that current policy support is insufficient to drive a prolonged acceleration in economic growth. 11th December 2012 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Focus What to expect from emerging markets in 2013 Emerging markets (EMs) will remain a relative bright spot in 2013. But with export demand from the developed world likely to remain subdued and structural problems dragging on growth in many of the... 10th December 2012 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China’s commodity imports disappoint Today’s Chinese trade data highlight the continued weakness in demand in the largest global consumer of commodities. The headline data did show commodity imports rising month-on-month but after... 10th December 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Signs economic recovery is faltering Today’s disappointing trade data have added to our doubts about the sustainability of China’s rebound. The weekend’s figures on investment and industrial production were more encouraging but they... 10th December 2012 · 1 min read
