Europe Data Response Euro-zone Flash PMIs (Jan.) The further fall in the Composite PMI for the euro-zone in January will not prompt the ECB to change its statement this afternoon. But it will heighten concerns about the severity of the slowdown and... 24th January 2019 · 1 min read
Commodities Outlook It will get worse, before it gets better Our forecast of slower global economic growth in 2019 poses a major headwind for commodity prices this year. What’s more, we are expecting further falls in global equity prices, which suggests that... 24th January 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Norges Bank too optimistic on GDP growth Following today’s monetary policy announcement, the Norges Bank is almost certain to raise interest rates in March. But we think that it is still too optimistic about prospects for the economy this... 24th January 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Re-assessing the outlook for German occupier markets A poorer outlook for the German economy has increased the downside risks to our outlook for occupier markets, most notably in the industrial sector as weaker global demand cools export growth. 24th January 2019 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Demographic headwinds building China’s working age population is currently falling by around 0.2% per year and in 2018 employment contracted for the first time in the reform era. These developments aren’t a surprise but the... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Euro-zone slowdown due to more than just exports The slowdown in the euro-zone economy last year was driven partly by a decline in export growth and partly by weakening household consumption growth. This year, we suspect that consumption growth will... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
US Fed Watch Fed to reverse course in 2020 The Fed will leave rates unchanged next week and may well include references to being “patient” in the policy statement and post-meeting press conference, to signal more clearly that a March rate hike... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response FHFA House Prices (Nov.) Annual house price growth was unchanged at 5.8% in November, but it is likely to resume its downward trend in 2019. While mortgage interest rates are set to fall back, a slowing economy will weigh on... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Retail Sales (Nov.) Although November’s fall in retail sales partly reflected lower gasoline prices, sales still fell in volume terms. Indeed, sales volumes appear to have contracted for the second quarter running last... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Romanian leu has much further to fall The Romanian government’s surprise introduction of a bank tax has put the leu under pressure recently and the country’s wide current account deficit suggests that further currency falls lie in store... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Turning even more bearish on the Australian dollar We have long forecast that the Australian dollar would weaken against the US dollar in 2019 owing to our bearish view of commodity prices and China’s economy. But changes to our outlook for monetary... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Impact of China's slowdown on the global economy China’s slowdown looks set to be of a similar scale to that in 2015/16. In terms of imbalances and financial market vulnerability, the world now looks better placed to withstand it. But against a... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Brazil IPCA-15 (Jan.) The continued softness of Brazilian inflation up to the middle of January will give the central bank room to hold off raising rates until there is more clarity on the government’s reform plan. For our... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Chinese slowdown one of many reasons for concern China’s slowdown looks set to be of a similar scale to that in 2015/16. In terms of imbalances and financial market vulnerability, the world now looks better placed to withstand it. But against a... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
Africa Data Response South Africa CPI (Dec.) The sharp fall in South African inflation in December adds to the evidence that the SARB’s much-heralded tightening cycle is now dead in the water. We expect that inflation will remain within target... 23rd January 2019 · 1 min read
