Asia Economics Update Pakistan: end of the easing cycle Pakistan’s central bank (SBP) left interest rate unchanged today at 7.0% and appeared to signal the end of its recent easing cycle. With the economy recovering well from the coronavirus crisis and... 21st September 2020 · 3 mins read
Japan Data Response Consumer Prices (Aug.) While headline inflation fell in August, excluding the government’s domestic travel subsidy scheme it showed a renewed pick up. However, we still think inflation will fall much further into negative... 18th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Focus Risk of inflation lower in the euro-zone than elsewhere If it is sustained for long enough, the policy stimulus being implemented in the euro-zone could eventually cause inflation to take off. However, we think it is more likely that policy is normalised... 17th September 2020 · 18 mins read
Africa Economics Update SARB easing cycle probably over, rates to stay low Today’s decision by South African Reserve Bank’s to keep its benchmark rate unchanged probably means that further easing is unlikely to materialise. Even so, monetary conditions are likely to remain... 17th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Central Bank Watch SNB to hold again; Norges Bank set for hawkish shift We expect the Swiss National Bank and the Norges Bank to both leave their policy settings unchanged next Thursday (24th September). But while the former will no doubt sound as dovish as ever... 17th September 2020 · 6 mins read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Final HICP (Aug.) Euro-zone core inflation fell to a record low in August and we suspect that it will fall even further in September. Looking ahead, underlying price pressures are likely to remain weak. 17th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: Selic rate to stay low for longer than most expect The dovish tone of the Brazilian central bank’s statement from yesterday’s meeting (at which the Selic rate was left at 2.00%) supports our view that the policy rate will remain at its current... 17th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Europe Economics Update Inventories point to little inflationary pressure In contrast to the US where falling inventories may start to push up prices, euro-zone firms’ inventories suggest that near-term price pressures are weak. 16th September 2020 · 4 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi consumer resilience unlikely to last Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia seems to have bounced back quickly in recent months, but the steep VAT hike and the suspension of the Cost of Living Allowance means that this is unlikely to be... 16th September 2020 · 3 mins read
Africa Data Response Nigeria CPI (Aug.) The increase in Nigerian inflation in August, to 13.2% y/y, will probably stay the hand of policymakers at next week’s MPC meeting. But, with a weak economic recovery, there may still be scope for an... 15th September 2020 · 2 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Consumer Prices (Aug.) Saudi inflation edged up to 6.2% y/y in August as the effects of the VAT hike at the start of July continued to dominate. Inflation will remain elevated until the middle of next year and, combined... 15th September 2020 · 2 mins read
Global Economics Update Australia - Lessons from Australia’s average inflation targeting Inflation has been close to the midpoint of the RBA’s 2-3% inflation target since its launch in the 1990s, but this has come at the expense of soaring house prices and household debt. Australia’s... 15th September 2020 · 4 mins read
India Data Response Consumer Prices (Aug.) Following the greater-than-expected rise in wholesale price inflation last month, it will come as some relief to policymakers that consumer price inflation held steady in August. That said, core... 14th September 2020 · 2 mins read
India Data Response Wholesale Prices (Aug.) Wholesale price inflation rose by more than most had expected in August, due mainly to a jump in the core component. A similarly sharp rise in core consumer price inflation last month – data will be... 14th September 2020 · 2 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly South African economy stumbles, oil price falls Q2 GDP figures released in South Africa this week weren’t quite as ugly as we had feared, which has prompted us to revise up our full year growth forecast (to -8.5% from -11.0%). Even so, the country... 11th September 2020 · 5 mins read
BoE Watch When the fog clears more stimulus will be required The initial recovery has been encouraging, but the downside risks remain. We think much more support will eventually be needed in the form of a further £250bn of QE in total (the consensus is £100bn... 10th September 2020 · 8 mins read
