UK Economics Weekly What scope does Osborne have to smooth the cuts? Given the rollercoaster profile for government spending inherited from the coalition, there is clear scope for the Government to smooth the fiscal consolidation more evenly over this parliament... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly What to make of the renewed weakening of the yen? We remain convinced that a weaker yen is needed to boost demand, lift inflation and put the public finances on a sustainable path. As long as the exchange rate continues to weaken gradually rather... 5th June 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Rise in oil prices has eased risk of deflation The rebound in global oil prices since January means it is all but certain that headline inflation in advanced economies will pick up sharply towards the end of the year. For most countries, this has... 4th June 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Flagging economy will prompt more rate cuts The futures market indicates that most investors are now convinced by the Bank of Canada's view that the January interest rate cut will be enough to prevent the economy from being derailed by the... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Merchandise Trade (Apr.) While April's slight pick-up in exports volumes might prompt suggestions that the economy began the second quarter on a stronger footing, the sharp decline in imports indicates that domestic demand... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Outlook for periphery’s exporters is improving The depreciation of the euro over the past year or so appears to be finally starting to help euro-zone exporters. The latest data show that annual growth in euro-zone export values picked up to 7.3%... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response International Trade (Apr.) The drop back in the trade deficit to $40.9bn in April, from $50.6bn, confirms that the spike in March was a temporary surge caused by the ending of the West Coast port dispute in February and... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Reviving investment helping economy to rebalance Although net trade dragged on GDP growth in the first quarter, a more encouraging development from the point of view of a rebalancing of the economy was the 1.7% quarterly rise in real business... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Kenya: shilling weakness no cause for panic The recent weakness of the Kenyan shilling is not, as some local media has alleged, the first sign of an impending balance of payments crisis. The shilling will probably continue to depreciate, but... 3rd June 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Weak yen not to blame for Korean export woes Subdued global demand, rather than the strength of the Korean won against the Japanese yen is to blame for the poor recent performance of Korean exports. 1st June 2015 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Is real GDP really mis-measured? The evidence of a seasonal quirk in the first-quarter GDP growth figures is pretty overwhelming. The same skewed pattern appears to have repeated itself this year too, with the 0.7% contraction in GDP... 29th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Asian growth eases in Q1 despite lower oil prices Growth in Emerging Asia eased slightly last quarter, despite the boost from lower oil prices. Weak exports haven’t helped, but it has been the reluctance of consumers to spend their windfall from... 29th May 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Encouraging signs beneath Q1 weakness Last week ended with a general sense of relative pessimism, following the lack of the expected upgrade to Q1’s GDP figure and the news that net trade was a big drag on the economy. But we are not too... 29th May 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Indonesia still looks vulnerable Today’s handover from military to civilian rule in Myanmar marks another welcome step forward in the country’s political development. But the new government must overcome a number of major challenges... 28th May 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response GDP: Second Estimate & Expenditure Breakdown (Q1) The lack of any upward revision to GDP in Q1 was a bit disappointing, but the figures will probably still be revised further ahead. Meanwhile, the big drag from net trade was hardly good news, but the... 28th May 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Saudi Arabia and Egypt follow divergent paths The latest activity data suggest that the MENA region’s two largest economies, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have headed in opposite directions at the start of 2015. After recording strong growth last year... 27th May 2015 · 1 min read
