Emerging Europe Data Response Poland Activity Data (Jan.) January’s Polish industrial production data will help to allay fears about an abrupt slowdown. But it still appears that Poland’s economy as a whole lost steam at the start of this year and, as... 21st February 2019 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (Feb.) The continued sharp fall in the manufacturing PMI in February adds to the evidence that Japan’s economy is losing steam rapidly and suggests that GDP growth will remain weak for now. 21st February 2019 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Pre-election loosening to provide short-lived support Measures to loosen both fiscal and monetary policy announced this month could provide a small boost to demand in the near-term. The finance ministry made a clear bid in the interim budget to shore up... 20th February 2019 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External Trade (Jan.) The renewed widening of the trade deficit in January suggests that net trade remained a drag on GDP growth in the first quarter and we think that export growth will remain sluggish this year. 20th February 2019 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update The policy response to a no deal Brexit As demand and supply would both drop after a no deal Brexit, it’s not obvious how policy should respond. But our view that the drop in demand would last longer than any fall in supply suggests the... 18th February 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Thailand GDP (Q4) GDP growth in Thailand picked up in Q4, but it is likely to struggle for momentum in the quarters ahead due to weaker external demand. The key risk to the outlook is the possibility of unrest if the... 18th February 2019 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Data reinforce Fed’s “patient” stance The Fed’s “patient” stance was originally a response to the deteriorating global economic and financial market backdrop, but the dreadful activity data and subdued inflation figures out this week... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
US Data Response Industrial Production (Jan.) The 0.6% m/m decline in industrial production in January was driven by a 0.9% drop in manufacturing output, suggesting that the US is now succumbing to the industrial downturn already evident across... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Weekly Implications of Riksbank’s FX and QE policies The Riksbank delivered a slightly more hawkish message than anticipated at its meeting this week, but we still think that the chance of an interest rate hike this year is falling. Meanwhile, despite... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Things might get worse before they get better It has been a worrying week for the economy. The Q4 GDP figures bore out the story that the global economic slowdown and Brexit worries are weighing on growth. And it increasingly looks like Brexit... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Firms pulling in their horns Corporate investment has been a key driver of domestic demand in Japan recently, underpinned by healthy profits and the growing capacity constraints that resulted from a prolonged period of above... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Economics Update What’s behind Central Europe’s resilience? The strength of the latest GDP figures out of Central Europe, despite weakness in Germany, partly reflects rapid wage growth and robust consumer spending. But it also looks like growth was supported... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Weak growth in Singapore to prompt policy loosening The weak Q4 GDP figures for Singapore that were released earlier today reaffirm our view that monetary and fiscal policy will be loosened this year. Meanwhile, the widening of Indonesia’s trade and... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Retail Sales (Jan.) Despite growing concerns about Brexit, which seem to be weighing on other sectors of the economy, the rise in retail sales volumes in January implies that consumers are still willing to spend. Of... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Weekly Dodgy data, slumping Sensex Recent developments have again cast a spotlight on the accuracy of Indian data, but unfortunately, we doubt that the formation of an independent regulator, that some have called for, would lead to any... 15th February 2019 · 1 min read
China Data Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Jan.) The jump in bank lending last month was mostly seasonal. But after months of declines, broad credit growth did edge up in January, hinting that monetary easing may be starting to gain more traction. 15th February 2019 · 1 min read