Recent Blogs

Subscribe to RSS feed

FILTER POSTS

Category

Archive

UK Bank Rate: Slackers hold the key

13 August 2014

Grant Lewis
, 
Emily Nicol

The performance of the UK labour market over the past year or so has confounded all expectations. And today’s data showed a further drop in the unemployment rate, to just 6.4% in the three months to June. But the MPC also today revised down its estimate of the equilibrium unemployment rate and its forecast of wage growth. As such, Mark Carney was able to stick to his mantra that increases in Bank Rate, when they come, will be very gradual, and that the eventual resting point for Bank Rate will be significantly below what had been usual in the pre-crisis period.

Categories : 

Japan's Q2 GDP: No show-stopper

13 August 2014

Chris Scicluna
, 
Emily Nicol

Japan’s GDP plunged in Q2 at the steepest rate since the 2011 earthquake, with consumer spending plummeting at a record pace. But evidence points to a rebound in the current quarter. The BoJ won’t be panicked into easing policy further. And today’s data certainly do not represent a show-stopper for Abenomics.

Categories : 

TLTROs: Never Mind the Placebo

08 August 2014

Robert Kuenzel
, 
Chris Scicluna

The ECB’s TLTRO programme begins next month. While the funding should allow banks to refinance more cheaply, is it really much more than a placebo for the euro area’s economic ills?

Categories : 

Euro area outlook: Firmer growth, subdued inflation

09 July 2014

Robert Kuenzel
, 
Chris Scicluna

Our latest economic forecast shows a gradual strengthening of euro area GDP growth over coming quarters, as well as a narrowing of growth differentials between the major economies. This should help to keep deflation at bay. But it will not suffice to push inflation significantly higher either: CPI will remain some way below the ECB’s target over the coming two years. And, of course, the risks are skewed to the downside. 

Categories : 

The Tankan and QQE: Carry on Regardless

01 July 2014

Chris Scicluna
, 
Emily Nicol

Three months on from the consumption tax hike and Japan’s economy looks to be absorbing the shock as well as might reasonably have been hoped. That was the message from today’s Tankan survey.

Categories :