US Data Response Consumer Prices (Jul.) The very muted 0.1% m/m gains in both headline and core CPI in July will certainly give the Fed pause for thought in whether to raise interest rates or not at the next FOMC meeting in mid September... 19th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Prime Office Rental Growth Hides Finland’s Ugly Truth Finland’s year-long recession has been reflected in weakening demand for commercial property space. Yet, as occupiers have traded-up, prime property has performed exceptionally well. However, we... 18th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus How fast can Spain grow? The relief rally in Chinese equities prompted by additional policy stimulus has turned global sentiment around, but a sustained recovery in commodity prices will probably require hard evidence that... 18th August 2015 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Rising unit labour costs a danger to the US stock market Weak productivity growth and rising wage inflation are likely to put upward pressure on unit labour costs in the US over the coming year, squeeze profit margins and cap the upside for the stock market... 14th August 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Deflation Watch: Negative inflation will return soon CPI inflation probably held steady at zero in July, but the recent fall in oil prices suggests that the UK is likely to experience another bout of negative inflation before the end of the year... 14th August 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Reform agenda hits another roadblock The ruling BJP's efforts to push through important economic reforms in the monsoon session of parliament, which finishes today, have been largely unsuccessful. Looking ahead, with attention soon... 13th August 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Labour market data (Jun./Jul.) The latest labour market figures supported the current consensus view on the Monetary Policy Committee that interest rates do not need to rise before the end of the year. 12th August 2015 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Data Response Employment data (Jun) From a property perspective the latest dip in job creation needs to be offset against the corresponding rise in productivity and profits that it implies. And if we are right that the falls in... 12th August 2015 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Slump in productivity growth is the no.1 economic problem Ignore the 1.3% annualised rebound in non-farm productivity in the second quarter, which barely reversed the 1.1% decline in the first quarter. The bigger story is the almost unprecedented weakness of... 11th August 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economic Outlook Recovery unlikely to slow sharply next year Strong growth in household spending this year will give way to a weaker performance in 2016. But this slowdown will not be severe and the medium-term outlook is bright. 11th August 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Labour Force Survey (Jul.) Employment increased by 6,600 in July, more evidence that the recent declines in output haven't been severe enough to induce employers to slash jobs. For the time being that's comforting. But if the... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly MPC still too cautious on productivity Once again, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) surprised many by the extent of its downward revision to the inflation forecast in its latest Inflation Report and the Governor poured cold water on... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Can the Spanish economy keep its place in the sun? Spain is set to remain the fastest growing of the major euro-zone economies for the next few quarters. But while the economy’s fundamentals have improved, the recent impressive growth rates also rest... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Singapore at 50: facing life after the miracle As Singapore celebrates its 50th anniversary since independence on 9th August, it can look back on a half-century in which it achieved enormous economic success. However, the country goes into its... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Our take on the labour market puzzle While our analysis suggests that it is the surprising leap in the unemployment rate in Australia in July that is sending the false signal and not the surprising strength of employment growth, there... 7th August 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Global growth set to recover further Global growth rebounded in the second quarter and the latest business surveys suggest that it has picked up further at the beginning of Q3. Growing fears of a hard landing in China have weighed on... 6th August 2015 · 1 min read