Europe Data Response French, Italian & Dutch Industrial Production (Aug.) A mixed set of national industrial production data for August from France, Italy and the Netherlands suggested that while euro-zone industry might have fared slightly better in Q3 than it did in Q2... 9th October 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Rising Italian confidence not enough to secure recovery The high level of consumer and business confidence in September added to the recent run of positive data coming from Italy. But strong confidence alone will not be enough to secure a sustained... 28th September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update How does Italian private debt compare to public debt Italy’s public debt load is worryingly high, but private sector debt is much less of a concern. This provides some grounds for optimism that a recovery in the private sector which increases the size... 23rd September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Deflation dangers still lingering While the crisis in Greece appears to have receded at least temporarily, the euro-zone still faces serious challenges in the form of weak growth and persistent deflation risks. As the Chart below... 2nd September 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q2 Prov.) Euro-zone GDP growth lost some pace in the second quarter, with a renewed divergence between healthy growth in Germany and stagnation in France. 14th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Italy’s recovery and reforms show no signs of boosting jobs The Italian economy’s tentative return to growth and recent structural reforms are unlikely to feed into a meaningful labour market recovery for some time yet. So frustrations with Mr Renzi’s... 4th August 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Focus Italy’s recovery: lessons from Iberia Spain’s and Portugal’s recoveries offer some hope for Italy, the periphery’s laggard. But Italy’s exports are still too uncompetitive and its firms too unprofitable to mimic the export and investment... 22nd July 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response French & Italian Industrial Production (May) The rebound in French and Italian industrial production in May came as a welcome relief after Q2’s weak start and the disappointing German data earlier in the week. But across the euro-zone as a whole... 10th July 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Reforms will help Italian banks crawl back to health Recent reforms will help Italy’s fragile banking system. But a legacy of bad debts and the earlier tightening of lending standards will weigh on the country’s recovery for a while yet. 2nd July 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Italy still not ready to pay down its debt Italy’s fiscal position is gradually improving. But contrary to the message from official forecasts, Italy has not yet done enough to start paying down its colossal public debt. 16th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response French & Italian Industrial Production (Apr.) The falls in French and Italian industrial production in April suggest that euro-zone industry will be a weaker driver of GDP growth in Q2. 10th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Italian households will be slow to feel recovery Italy’s economy looks set to grow again in Q2. But households there will remain under enormous pressure for the foreseeable future, which has implications for the strength of the recovery and support... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response EC Business & Consumer Survey (May) The European Commission’s monthly Business and Consumer survey for May offered some assurance that the modest euro-zone recovery has continued despite the ongoing Greek crisis. 28th May 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Weekly Market gyrations could threaten recovery The sharp rise in euro-zone bond yields and further appreciation of the euro last week might look like a response to the recent improvement in the euro-zone’s economic performance. But the renewed... 8th May 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Will an Italian economic recovery boost commercial property in 2015? Despite recent positive economic data, the Italian economy is unlikely to rebound strongly this year. Nevertheless, a loosening of credit standards and the fact that real estate loans are now being... 15th April 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Italian Industrial Production (Feb.) February’s Italian industrial production data added to signs that the long recession may finally be coming to an end. But the recovery still looks surprisingly slow given the boost provided by falls... 13th April 2015 · 1 min read