Australia & New Zealand Data Response Retail Sales & International Trade (Feb.) The strong 0.8% m/m rise in retail sales in February suggests that consumption growth may not have declined further in Q1, but we think the housing downturn will mean growth remains subdued in 2019... 3rd April 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Data Response Korea Trade, Manufacturing PMIs (Mar.) PMIs rose across much of Emerging Asia last month. But it’s too soon to call a turning point. The PMIs for the region’s biggest manufacturing sectors still point to a contraction in output, while... 1st April 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Current account deficit to remain in check India’s current account deficit widened at the end of 2018 but this shouldn’t reignite concerns over the external position. With oil prices likely to fall, the deficit will remain at a comfortable... 1st April 2019 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update China rebound won’t get Germany back on track Weaker Chinese demand can explain only a fraction of the slowdown in German GDP growth over the past year: softer demand in other export markets and in the euro-zone are more important factors... 28th March 2019 · 1 min read
Canada Economic Outlook Economic weakness will force rate cuts this year We expect GDP growth to slow to only 1.0% this year, as the housing downturn weighs on the domestic economy and exports are held back by the global slowdown. That weakness should prompt the Bank of... 28th March 2019 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Chart Pack Running out of steam The Australian and New Zealand economies both appear to be running out of steam with growth slowing sharply in the second half of 2018. And we think the outlook is set to deteriorate further. Annual... 28th March 2019 · 1 min read
Global Trade Monitor World trade will struggle to grow this year The pick-up in world trade in January is little to cheer about. A partial rebound was always likely after the dreadful end to last year. Leading indicators suggest that world trade volumes will remain... 27th March 2019 · 1 min read
US Data Response International Trade (Jan.) The sharp fall in the trade deficit in January was mainly due to a larger than expected drop in imports, which is hardly a positive sign for the economy. Nonetheless, with imports likely to have been... 27th March 2019 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Jan.) The further decline in the international manufacturing surveys in recent months suggests that January’s strong export growth is unlikely to be sustained. With import volumes rising by even more than... 27th March 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Malaysia’s central bank hints at rate cuts Malaysia’s central bank (BNM) today dropped its clearest hint yet that interest rate cuts are on the way after it lowered its growth forecasts for this year and pledged that monetary policy would be... 27th March 2019 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Trade downturn, Malaysia deflation, Thai election The past week has brought further bad news on the trade front, with more countries reporting a decline in exports. A turn in the electronics inventory cycle, the trade war and weaker global demand are... 22nd March 2019 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Picking apart the EM export slowdown The most notable explanation behind the recent sharp slowdown in EM export growth is the fall in commodity prices. But there are signs that softer global demand has also taken its toll. 20th March 2019 · 1 min read
US Chart Pack Strong surveys at odds with slowing growth The incoming monthly activity data suggest that GDP growth has slowed from 2.6% annualised in the fourth quarter to only around 1.5% in the first. At the same time, however, the business surveys have... 20th March 2019 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Rupee rally unlikely to last The 3% rise in the rupee against the US dollar so far in March has left it at its strongest rate since August, and means it has outperformed all other major EM currencies this month. This is related... 20th March 2019 · 1 min read
Japan Chart Pack Wage growth weakening Major electronics firms and carmakers offered workers smaller base pay increases during this year’s spring wage negotiations than they did last year. (See Chart.) Only a small share of firms... 19th March 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Smaller trade deficit is here to stay India’s monthly goods trade deficit narrowed to a 17-month low in February and, with oil prices set to remain low, we think the shortfall will remain small over the coming months. In turn, that should... 18th March 2019 · 1 min read
