UK Economics Chart Pack Labour market weakness set to undermine spending The labour market’s recent deterioration threatens to nip the nascent recovery in consumer spending in the bud. Employment has begun to fall again and the forward-looking surveys suggest no imminent... 19th April 2013 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales (Mar.) March’s fall in the official measure of retail sales volumes was unsurprising given that month’s unusually severe weather. This still left sales up in the first quarter of 2013 as a whole. Nonetheless... 18th April 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Mexico reform programme takes shape The Mexican economy has slowed since the start of the year, taking some of the shine off of one of Latin America’s more positive growth stories. Nonetheless, we expect the economy to rebound later... 16th April 2013 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Maduro's victory could herald period of instability in Venezuela Despite hopes for a new pragmatism, there is little evidence to suggest that Nicolas Maduro’s victory in yesterday’s Venezuelan presidential election will herald the dawn of an era of improved... 15th April 2013 · 1 min read
US Data Response Retail Sales & Producer Prices (Mar.) The surprise fall in retail sales in March adds to other evidence that the US economy is experiencing another spring slowdown. But we doubt that the easing in economic growth in the coming quarters... 12th April 2013 · 1 min read
US Economics Update Obama's budget will kick-start new round of negotiations President Obama's budget proposals for fiscal year 2014 will now kick-start a renewed round of negotiations in Congress that, at best, could result in a much-coveted grand bargain or, at worst if the... 10th April 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Online sales growth offers some retail comfort In the subdued retail environment of recent years, one bright spot has been rapid growth in online sales. Even in the difficult conditions in 2012, internet purchases grew by 15%. With 90% of sales... 10th April 2013 · 1 min read
UK Data Response BRC Retail Sales Monitor (Mar.) Against the recent awful weather, March’s BRC Retail Sales Monitor delivered a reasonably positive result. While the timing of Easter will have provided a boost to March’s figure, sales in Q1 as a... 9th April 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Business intentions indicate sluggish growth ahead The latest Business Outlook Survey suggests that, while slightly more businesses expect future sales to pick-up over the next 12 months, investment intentions have been scaled back and hiring... 8th April 2013 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Malaysia's election - what it means for the economy Malaysia’s government dissolved parliament on Wednesday, leaving the election commission a 60-day window in which to call an election. This Weekly explains why, although an opposition victory is... 8th April 2013 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenyan markets rally but post-election challenges remain Kenyan financial markets have rallied in the past few days following the Supreme Court’s ruling that the presidential election held in March was legitimate. Nevertheless, with growth appearing to have... 3rd April 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update 'Zombie' companies may not be dead yet There is growing talk about the ‘zombification’ of the UK economy, with unviable companies locking up resources and impeding bank lending to new firms. But an economic recovery could well reveal... 3rd April 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Opportunities and challenges from the "grey pound" The number of people aged 65 and over is set to increase by more than 4.5m by 2030. While this group currently accounts for less than £1 in every £5 of total spending, this share might rise to £1 in... 3rd April 2013 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Can Italy shrug off its political deadlock? The recent news from Italy suggests that it could still be some time before a new government is in place. While there is little sign, for now at least, that this has damaged business and consumer... 2nd April 2013 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update BRICS summit more about politics than economics At their summit in South Africa today and tomorrow, leaders of the BRICS are expected to announce progress towards setting up a development bank and to outline a plan to pool some of their foreign... 26th March 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Small business survey raises some warning flags The headlines from the latest small business survey are positive but the detail includes some potentially worrying signs that the economic recovery may already be running out of steam. 26th March 2013 · 1 min read
