Japan Economics Update Exemptions for food won’t dampen blow from sales tax hike The decision to exempt food from the sales tax hike due in 2017 will not make much difference to theblow it causes to economic momentum. It may however make an early election more likely. 16th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Dec.) While the headline manufacturing PMI was little changed in December, the moderation in the output component suggests that the recovery has lost some momentum. 16th December 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response German ZEW (Dec.) December’s solid rise in German ZEW investor expectations suggests that the economy is faring pretty well, but it still points to a slight slowdown in growth. 15th December 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Economics takes a back seat to politics The past month in Latin America has seen economics take a back seat to politics. The good news has come from Argentina, where the inauguration of Mauricio Macri as president has buoyed both hopes for... 14th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Tankan (Q4) The upside surprise in today’s Tankan survey will support the Bank of Japan’s upbeat view on the economy and suggests that policymakers will leave the pace of asset purchases unchanged at least until... 14th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Government eyes nursing to revive growth One of the government’s latest measures to promote growth is a proposal to increase the number of nursing home beds so that fewer workers quit their jobs to take care of family members. The plan could... 11th December 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Argentina: a reform checklist Mauricio Macri will be sworn in as president of Argentina today against a backdrop of lofty expectations in financial markets for policy change. The lesson from other EMs is that big reforms tend to... 10th December 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Finance minister’s sacking will spook investors The surprise removal of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene is a very worrying development. Mr. Nene was a rare advocate of fiscal discipline, and his sacking adds to a string of increasingly autocratic... 10th December 2015 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Focus Ten key calls for EMs in 2016 The EM world looks to have grown by its weakest pace since the global financial crisis in 2015, but things should start to improve next year. In this Focus we outline the ten key issues that we think... 9th December 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Have the Conservatives turned into Labour? The Autumn Statement took the Conservatives’ planned path for departmental spending another stepcloser to Labour’s manifesto plans. Admittedly, the overall fiscal consolidation this parliament is set... 9th December 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Venezuela opposition supermajority confirmed, Maduro out? Venezuela’s electoral council has finally conceded that the opposition won a two-thirds supermajority in Sunday’s legislative elections and this is certainly a game changer. It will give the... 9th December 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Industrial Production (Oct.) After a torrid year so far, October’s industrial production figures suggest that theUK manufacturing sector should end the year in better shape. 8th December 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response BRC Retail Sales Monitor (Nov.) The growing prevalence of Black Friday failed to provide much of a boost to retail sales in November. It appears sales were just shifted from the start to the end of November to take advantage of... 8th December 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers Survey (Nov.) Today’s Economy Watchers Survey dropped back even allowing for seasonal distortions, and once again points to stagnant industrial activity. 8th December 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update France to suffer in the long term from Front National’s win The unprecedented success of France’s far-right Front National (FN) in Sunday’s regional elections is a symbolic victory for the party’s protectionist and anti-immigration policies. While the initial... 7th December 2015 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Venezuela election: Opposition wins, but no big policy shift likely Venezuela’s opposition comfortably won yesterday’s legislative elections, although with 22 seats still to be declared, the size of the victory (and therefore the impact on policymaking) still hangs in... 7th December 2015 · 1 min read
