US Data Response Employment Report (Jul.) & Int. Trade (Jun.) The better than expected 255,000 increase in non-farm payrolls in July will renew speculation that the Fed might hike interest rates as soon as this September, but we still think Fed officials will... 5th August 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia International Trade & Building Approvals (Jun.) The weak outlook for inflation is enough on its own to prompt the RBA to cut interest rates to 1.5% at the policy meeting later today, but mounting evidence that economic growth lost a lot of momentum... 2nd August 2016 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Is Pakistan ready for life without the IMF? Pakistan’s three-year arrangement with the IMF comes to an end next month. An improvement in the external position means it is unlikely that there will be any immediate problems, but the IMF does... 29th July 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly The bigger picture on inflation Australia’s inflation data for the second quarter provided something for everyone, but the bigger picture is that there is very little price pressure anywhere in the economy. This is why we believe... 29th July 2016 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External Trade (Jun.) The sharp strengthening of the exchange rate since the start of the year continued to depress trade values in June. However, falling trade values mask a stabilisation in trade volumes. 25th July 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Two things the RBA could learn from the RBNZ The recent experience of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand provides two lessons for the Reserve Bank of Australia. First, don’t dither when it comes to making decisions otherwise you’ll be punished by a... 22nd July 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Chart Pack After the coup... The failed military coup in Turkey and subsequent government backlash have dominated investors’ concerns over the past week and triggered a sell-off in local financial markets. Policymakers have... 22nd July 2016 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Capital injections too small to revive banking sector The government’s announcement this week that it will inject more capital into local banks is a positive step, but the amount is still too limited to revive the ailing sector. 22nd July 2016 · 1 min read
Global Trade Monitor Prospects for world trade growth worsen The latest available data show that world trade, which has been pretty stagnant for the past eighteen months or so, remains depressed. And with the UK’s Brexit vote having further reduced the chances... 21st July 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update S. Africa: current account to remain in deficit, rand under pressure A string of positive trade figures released over the past few months has raised hopes that South Africa’s balance of payments position might finally improve. In this Watch, however, we explain why the... 19th July 2016 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Fresh devaluation of the Egyptian pound just a matter of time The Egyptian pound has been held steady since March’s devaluation, but persistent strains in the balance of payments mean that it needs to fall further. Recent shifts towards more orthodox... 19th July 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Trade Monitor EM export slump gradually easing The decline of EM values slowed, in US$ terms, again in May. The volume of EM exports, which is more important from an economic standpoint, actually rose. 18th July 2016 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Export slump ends but sharp rebound unlikely Trade data for June showed positive growth in export values for the first time since the end of 2014. But with progress on the reforms needed to create a vibrant export sector still slow, the... 18th July 2016 · 1 min read
Europe Data Response Euro-zone Trade (May) & Final CPI (Jun.) May’s euro-zone goods trade data suggest that net exports will have cushioned the likely slowdown in GDP growth in Q2. Further ahead, we expect the trade surplus to narrow further this year, as slower... 15th July 2016 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Economic growth already fading again After a brief surge at the start of this year, GDP growth has already slowed markedly in recent months. (See Chart.) Unfortunately, the recent limited rebound in commodity prices won’t be enough to... 14th July 2016 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Emerging Markets Capital Flows Monitor (Jul 2016) Our Tracker suggests that capital outflows from the emerging world declined to their lowest level in a year in June. Admittedly, our estimate is clouded by some questions about the data from China... 14th July 2016 · 1 min read