Japan Data Response Tankan (Q3) The sharp deterioration in business conditions in the non-manufacturing sector in today's Tankan suggests that output may have shrunk yet again in the third quarter. 1st October 2014 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s economy shifts up a gear 30th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash CPI (Sep.) & Unemployment (Aug.) September’s fall in euro-zone inflation to a whisker above zero and August’s weak labour market data will add to the pressure on the ECB to signal further policy support at its meeting this Thursday. 30th September 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Sep.) The stagnation in small business confidence in September provides yet another indication that Japan's economic recovery remains sluggish. 30th September 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Aug) Wage growth slowed in August, and will likely remain around 1% y/y in coming months as the summer bonus season has come to an end. 30th September 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Retail Sales, Industrial Production & Unemployment (Aug.) Today's data are unlikely to dispel concerns about the pace of recovery from last quarter's slump. 30th September 2014 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Inflation outlook has not changed While the recent softening in price pressures suggests that core inflation won’t hit the Fed’s 2% target until a bit later than we previously thought, we still think it will get there by mid-2015... 26th September 2014 · 1 min read
US Employment Report Preview Slowdown in job growth at odds with other evidence Our econometric model suggests that the recent slowdown in payroll employment growth is at odds with the strengthening in other measures of labour market conditions. As such, we expect that August’s... 25th September 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Finland set to lag behind Nordic neighbours Finland’s dismal post-crisis economic performance is at odds with the ongoing recoveries of its Nordic neighbours. Although these countries share many characteristics, Finland’s economic decline has... 25th September 2014 · 1 min read
US Chart Pack Core inflation will bounce back Despite the weaker core inflation readings over the past couple of months, we still expect core inflation to climb gradually, rising above the Fed's 2% target in the first half of next year... 24th September 2014 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack What is behind the recent currency weakness? Sizeable falls in a number of Asian currencies against the US dollar over the past month have rekindled unwelcome memories of last summer’s “Taper Tantrum”. As was the case during last year’s sell-off... 23rd September 2014 · 1 min read
China Data Response HSBC/Markit Flash Manufacturing PMI (Sep.) Today's PMI reading suggests that conditions in the manufacturing sector have held up better than expected recently on the back of healthy export demand. That said, the economy still faces significant... 23rd September 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Minimum wage pledges unlikely to benefit households much With real wages still falling, proposals to raise the national minimum wage (NMW) look set to play a key role in political parties’ general election campaigns. But given the likely adverse effects on... 22nd September 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Post-referendum relief rally falls flat The absence of a major relief rally following Scotland’s rejection of independence confirms that the markets only ever placed a very small probability on a ‘Yes’ vote. Although interest rate... 19th September 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Has the labour market turned for the worse? Industrial production has been falling for several months, and unemployment has started to rise again. If past experience is any guide, the unemployment rate will continue rising towards 4% by the end... 19th September 2014 · 1 min read
US Economic Outlook Return to normalcy? The recent strength evident in much of the incoming survey and activity data suggeststhat we were right to believe GDP growth would accelerate once credit conditions eased and thefiscal drag faded. We... 18th September 2014 · 1 min read