Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Lifting lockdowns spurs confidence As the lockdown is lifted in Australia consumer and business sentiment is turning a corner. We expect consumer confidence and activity to continue picking up in line with easing restrictions... 12th June 2020 · 7 mins read
India Economics Weekly Conditions slowly improve, interest waiver dispute The gradual loosening of strict containment measures has provided a slight boost to activity, but with new COVID-19 cases still rising sharply, the recovery is likely to be slower and bumpier than in... 12th June 2020 · 6 mins read
Africa Economics Update South African lockdown causing activity to collapse Early evidence suggests that the coronavirus and South Africa’s lockdown measures are taking a heavy toll on the economy and supports our view that the economy will decline sharply over the year as a... 11th June 2020 · 2 mins read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Industrial Production (Apr.) The 25.1% m/m collapse in Mexico’s industrial production in April suggests that Mexico’s economy suffered a hefty blow in Q2. Although this may mark the bottom for industry, it will add pressure for... 11th June 2020 · 2 mins read
UK Economics Update Will households spend their savings? The bulk of the leap in the saving rate will be reversed as the economy opens and people start spending again but the desire to hold more savings post-lockdown combined with lower incomes will weigh... 10th June 2020 · 3 mins read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Apr.) The large fall in machinery orders in April supports our forecast that non-residential investment will slump in Q2. With business confidence subdued, a recovery before the end of the year is unlikely. 10th June 2020 · 2 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Update Poland: a regional bright spot The early signs are that activity is recovering quickly in Poland as lockdown measures are lifted. Provided that the virus is contained, we think that Poland will experience the smallest contraction... 9th June 2020 · 4 mins read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone GDP (Q1, breakdown) The sharp fall in GDP in Q1, confirmed by data released this morning, will pale in comparison to the contraction in Q2. We think it will then take several years for the economy to return to its pre... 9th June 2020 · 2 mins read
Asia Economics Update South Asia and the lockdown dilemma Lockdowns are being eased in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh without any sign that coronavirus infections are being brought under control. Economic recoveries will face greater headwinds than in places... 9th June 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Update Taiwan: raising our GDP forecasts on stronger exports With domestic infections contained, the main way in which the global pandemic has threatened Taiwan economically is through weakness in external demand. Exports have held up much better than we had... 8th June 2020 · 3 mins read
Asia Economics Focus Which countries will rebound fastest? The high-frequency data that we track suggest that while economic activity is picking up across most of the region, the pace of recovery varies significantly by country. We expect China, Singapore... 8th June 2020 · 11 mins read
Europe Data Response German Industrial Production (Apr.) The slump in April was even bigger than the previous record set only a month ago. While the data should improve from May onwards, output probably won’t get back pre-coronavirus levels for at least two... 8th June 2020 · 2 mins read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q1 Revised) The upward revision to Q1 GDP displayed in the revised estimate is cold comfort given that output is plummeting this quarter. We expect GDP to fall by another 9% this quarter. 8th June 2020 · 2 mins read
India Economics Weekly Downgrade, locusts, activity edging up The downgrade of India’s sovereign rating by Moody’s this week had little impact on financial markets, and we think that bond yields will remain close to their current low level over the coming months... 5th June 2020 · 5 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Lower benefits won’t prevent rebound in spending The government has said it will delay the Budget Update until July so it can reassess the eligibility of the JobKeeper scheme. Reducing the payments for part-time workers could save the government... 5th June 2020 · 4 mins read
Nordic & Swiss Data Response Switz. CPI (May), Sweden Priv. Sector Prod. (Apr.) The further decline in Swiss inflation in May came as no surprise, but April’s private sector production data from Sweden add to signs that the economy has reaped some benefit from its light-touch... 4th June 2020 · 2 mins read
