US Data Response ISM Manufacturing Index (May) The rise in the ISM manufacturing index to 56.1 in May, from 55.4, was better than we had anticipated and suggests a continued easing of supply shortages is supporting activity. But we expect a... 1st June 2022 · 2 mins read
Latin America Economics Weekly Reasons for optimism in Colombia and Brazil? Populist Rodolfo Hernández is now the favourite to become Colombia’s next president and this has buoyed local financial markets this week, but we think that the scope for a further rally is limited... 1st June 2022 · 6 mins read
Commodities Update Weak China demand won’t hold back oil prices Despite a rise in May, China’s PMIs still point to weak Chinese demand, which will continue to weigh on industrial metals prices. However, the war in Ukraine will remain the bigger driver of energy... 1st June 2022 · 2 mins read
Europe Economics Weekly Stagflation taking hold The slump in German retail sales in April is a reminder than surging inflation is a headache not only for the ECB but also for households whose purchasing power is being eroded. Stagflation is... 1st June 2022 · 5 mins read
UK Economics Risks to consumer spending forecast tilted to the downside April's money and credit data provide another reason to think that the consumer slowdown in April wasn't too severe. But it may take time for the cost of living squeeze to fully filter through into... 1st June 2022 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Weekly Oil embargo, PLN/HUF divergence, inventory boost The EU's embargo on seaborne imports of Russian crude and petroleum products will be painful for Russia, but it won't be a disaster for as long as commodity prices remain high and Russia can export... 1st June 2022 · 8 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Weekly Monarchical achievements & “killer apps” Real per capita incomes in the UK have risen by 1.9% on average each year since Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952. But the monarchical bragging rights go to Harald V in Norway, under whom GDP... 1st June 2022 · 5 mins read
Africa Data Response South Africa Manufacturing PMI (May) The rebound in South Africa’s manufacturing PMI last month reversed some of its losses in April, but the recovery in the manufacturing sector is on shaky footings given ongoing power cuts. And price... 1st June 2022 · 2 mins read
Emerging Europe Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (May) Manufacturing PMIs for May showed that weaker external demand weighed on export orders in Emerging Europe, and that spillovers from the war in Ukraine hit output. There were some signs of improvement... 1st June 2022 · 2 mins read
Global Economics Focus Can the world cope with higher interest rates? We expect the most aggressive policy tightening cycle in decades to cause a slowdown in global economic growth, not a severe downturn. The biggest risk is that inflation stays higher for much longer... 1st June 2022 · 27 mins read
India Data Response Manufacturing PMI (May) India’s manufacturing PMI held steady in May, but there are further signs of price pressures becoming more intense last month. That supports our view that the RBI will frontload its policy tightening. 1st June 2022 · 2 mins read
Asia Data Response Manufacturing PMIs, Korea Trade (May) Manufacturing PMIs for May suggest that cost pressures remain high, but there were more encouraging signs on the external front, with new export orders showing signs of stabilising. Meanwhile, Korean... 1st June 2022 · 2 mins read
China Data Response China Caixin Manufacturing PMI (May) The Caixin manufacturing index published today rebounded last month thanks to the easing of virus containment measures. Taken together with the official survey, they suggest that a recovery in... 1st June 2022 · 3 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia GDP (Q1 22) The solid rise in Q1 GDP supports our view that the economy will hold up better in the face of rising interest rates and falling real incomes than most anticipate. 1st June 2022 · 2 mins read
US Economics Update Monetary Indicators Monitor (Apr.) Annual money growth is slowing sharply and, given rapidly rising interest rates, wealth losses and QT, that slowdown has a lot further to run. The growth rate of bank loans is accelerating, however... 31st May 2022 · 3 mins read
Emerging Europe Chart Pack Resilience so far, but weakness on the horizon GDP across Central Europe expanded strongly in Q1 and the latest figures for March and April suggest that activity has remained resilient since the war in Ukraine started. Russia’s economy has not... 31st May 2022 · 14 mins read