Latin America Economics Update Ominous signs from Lat Am current accounts Balance of payments problems in Venezuela and Argentina have deflected attention away from the fact that current account positions across much of the rest of Latin America have deteriorated... 12th January 2015 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Industrial Production & Trade (Nov.) November’s figures on industrial production and trade presented a mixed picture of the health of the UK’s recovery towards the end of 2014. But 2015 should prove to be a better year for UK exporters... 9th January 2015 · 1 min read
Europe Chart Pack Deflation will last longer this time The euro-zone is back in deflation just over five years since the end of the last period of falling prices seen in 2009. But unlike that last bout, which lasted just five months, deflation looks set... 8th January 2015 · 1 min read
Global Economics Chart Pack Cheap oil to slash inflation and bolster growth The slump in oil prices, along with renewed concerns about Greece, have taken a toll on investor confidence in the past week or so, causing equity markets to fall and demand for safe-haven assets to... 8th January 2015 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Gulf on course to post current account deficit this year We’ve argued for some time that the Gulf economies are set to run a current account deficit this year for the first time in over a decade, and the latest plunge in oil prices means this deficit could... 8th January 2015 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response International Trade (Nov.) With crude oil prices still in freefall, the deterioration in the monthly trade balance to a deficit of $0.6bn in November, from $0.3bn, is unfortunately only the start of what could develop into a... 7th January 2015 · 1 min read
US Data Response International Trade (Nov.) The full effects of the plunge in oil prices on the US international trade deficit have yet to be felt, which means that the deficit may soon shrink to a five-year low of around $34bn. 7th January 2015 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Cause for optimism in 2015 In our first Watch of 2015, we outline the prospects for India’s economy over the coming year. Falling commodity prices should brighten the outlook by providing a boost to consumer spending and... 7th January 2015 · 1 min read
UK Economics Chart Pack Oil price decline to bolster recovery in 2015 The halving of oil prices over the past six months should provide some timely support to the economic recovery. Indeed, coupled with the freezing of energy bills this winter, lower oil prices should... 6th January 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Update Demographic headwinds are picking up Firms were predicting strong gains in industrial output around the turn of the year despite some weakness in the latest figures on spending and production. But with the labour force now shrinking and... 5th January 2015 · 1 min read
Asia Chart Pack Sri Lanka faces tight election contest Sri Lanka’s presidential election, scheduled for 8 th January, is shaping up to be much closer than expected, with the current president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, now facing a genuine challenge from... 24th December 2014 · 1 min read
Global Economics Update Fall in oil prices will radically alter global imbalances The collapse in oil prices looks set to wipe out the Gulf’s external surpluses next year, leaving China and the euro-zone as the world’s major surplus economies. At the same time, the US deficit looks... 23rd December 2014 · 1 min read
UK Data Response National Accounts & Balance of Payments (Q3) The latest set of national accounts leave the economic recovery looking more fragile than it appeared before. Nonetheless, there are compelling reasons to be optimistic about the growth outlook. 23rd December 2014 · 1 min read
Global Markets Update Oil price slide prompts withdrawal from emerging markets Investors’ retreat from emerging markets over the past month has reflected growing concerns about the implications of the collapse in the price of oil. Admittedly, most countries (and the world as a... 23rd December 2014 · 1 min read
Emerging Europe Chart Pack Russia spirals into crisis The Russian ruble has stabilised in recent days, but only after the central bank introduced a raft of measures to limit ruble liquidity – including a massive hike in interest rates – and, perhaps more... 22nd December 2014 · 1 min read
Global Trade Monitor Renewed weakness in trade Growth in the volume of world trade slowed again in October. The latest slump in the price of crude oil has not yet fed through to trade data. But when it does so, big changes in the value of trade... 19th December 2014 · 1 min read