China Data Response China GDP (Q1), Activity & Spending (Mar.) China’s GDP growth jumped to a record high in y/y terms last quarter. But this was entirely due to a weaker base for comparison from last year’s historic downturn. In q/q terms, growth dropped back... 16th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Kansai emergency looming, jabs to pick up soon The continued surge in daily infections makes it highly likely that states of emergency will be declared again for at least the hard hit prefectures of Osaka and Hyogo. If the spread intensifies... 16th April 2021 · 6 mins read
India Economics Weekly Investment recovery enters a slower phase Monthly data suggest that the recovery in investment has slowed, and headwinds are mounting too. The surge in virus cases means lots of firms will tread with caution in the near term, while problems... 16th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Markets Capital Flows Monitor (April. 2021) With the notable exception of Turkey, the net capital outflows from emerging markets seen in February and March appear to have eased in recent weeks. Outflows may yet intensify over the coming... 15th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update RBNZ will hike rates in 2022 The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) stuck to its dovish stance when it left policy settings unchanged today, but we still expect the Bank to raise rates towards the end of next year. 14th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Singapore: monetary policy to remain on hold in 2021 The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) left policy on hold today as advanced Q1 GDP data showed the economy rebounded further. While GDP is set to continue recovering at a decent pace, a persistent... 14th April 2021 · 3 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Machinery Orders (Feb. 2021) The sharp fall in machinery orders in February poses downside risks to our view that business investment continued to rise last quarter. However, the recovery in private investment should still gather... 14th April 2021 · 2 mins read
Emerging Europe Data Response Turkey Industrial Production & Retail Sales (Feb.) Turkey’s activity figures for February suggest that the economy lost momentum in the first quarter of this year and the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, combined with the tightening of financial... 13th April 2021 · 2 mins read
Europe Economics Update Households still accumulating excess savings We estimate that households accumulated “excess” savings of around 4.4% of GDP last year. But they are unlikely to spend this cash any time soon, so it will probably not do much to boost the recovery. 9th April 2021 · 2 mins read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Industrial Production (Feb.) The surprising 0.4% m/m rise in Mexico’s industrial production in February came despite the hit to manufacturing and utilities output from power outages. The industrial sector probably gained further... 9th April 2021 · 2 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly UK variant taking hold in Osaka, July snap election? Signs the recent surge in infections in the Osaka area is being driven by more infectious strains raises the risk of more draconian restrictions being needed to break the fourth wave of coronavirus... 9th April 2021 · 5 mins read
India Economics Weekly QE or not QE isn’t really the question The RBI's new bond purchase programme announced this week has led to comparisons with quantitative easing (QE), but there appears to be some subtle differences. In truth however, it matters little... 9th April 2021 · 6 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Travel bubble & vaccine rollout The Australia-New Zealand travel bubble is set to launch in mid-April which should support employment in the tourism and transport sectors. But employment won’t fully rebound until the tourism returns... 9th April 2021 · 5 mins read
India Economics Update RBI will keep policy loose for a long while yet The MPC voted to keep the repo and reverse repo rates on hold today amid the surge in COVID-19 cases, and committed to keeping policy “accommodative to support and nurture the recovery”. Given this... 7th April 2021 · 3 mins read
India Data Response Services & Composite PMI (Mar.) India’s PMI readings for March indicate that the economic recovery continued to progress well at the end of Q1. But with virus cases surging and new restrictions quickly coming onto the agenda, the... 7th April 2021 · 2 mins read
India Data Response Manufacturing PMI (Mar.) India’s manufacturing PMI for March indicates a continued rebound in the sector last month, but that has already been overtaken by more recent events. In particular, the renewed surge in new COVID-19... 5th April 2021 · 2 mins read